UW Conference To Explore New Anthology

Six of the nine editors who worked on the Norton Anthology of African American Literature — including general co-editors UW–Madison’s Nellie McKay and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. of Harvard — will come together to participate in “Canonizing African American Literature: Black Anthologies in America 1843-1996” on April 4 and 5.

The event honors the achievements of the new book and the dozens of scholars who, beginning in 1843, started to create anthologies of black literature. Their all-too-often-unrecognized efforts preserved much of what appears today in the new Norton anthology.

According to McKay, professor of Afro-American Studies and English, the conference will address issues “relating to the history and significance of creating a canon that moves what has been until now a marginal literature into the mainstream of world literature.”

Sessions on April 4 will present an overview of black anthologies (11:15 a.m.) and past and present anthology creation (2 p.m.). Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will discuss “The Achievement of The Norton Anthology of African American Literature” at 10:15 a.m.

On April 5, Norton anthology editors will discuss its creation (9:45 a.m.) and a panel will consider “Inheritors of the New Canon: Graduate Students’ Voices” (1:15 p.m.).

Activities on April 4 will take place in 1100 Grainger Hall. Events on April 5 will be held in the State Historical Society of Wisconsin auditorium. For a complete schedule, contact the Department of Afro-American Studies, (608) 263-1642.