Which is why we are event a couple of thank you before we get started. The black History Month committee and the life of student affairs, the dean, and as always the staff and make these event possible. Thank you. [applause] so let me introduce our wonderful speakers this evening. Salamishah tillet is an associate professor of english and African Studies at a faculty member of the center for gender sexuality and women studies of university of pennsylvania. She has a phd in the history of american civilizations, and english, from harvard, and any mat from brown. She received a ba in english and africanamerican studies. Her most recent book, by Duke University press, examines how contemporary African American artists, writers, and intellectuals remember antebellum slavery within the postcivil rights america to challenge ongoing exclusion of africanamerican citizens for a model of racial democratic future. In 2010, she did a special issue of ethiopia. Her work has appeared in many differe