Book Talk: Professor Emerita Brenda Berrian on "Race, Identity, and Privilege from the U.S. to the Congo"
On Friday, February 18th, 2022, Dr. Brenda Berrian delivered on a virtual book talk titled, "The Tapestry of My Life: Race, Identity, and Privilege from the U.S. to the Congo".
Book Description:
In July 1961, five months after Patrice Lumumba’s assassination, 14-year-old Brenda F. Berrian’s consciousness was raised by her family’s move to the turbulent Republic of the Congo. Race, Identity, and Privilege from the US to the Congo traces Berrian’s experiences of subsequently traveling the United States, Canada, France, and three other African countries against the backdrop of emerging African independence and the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Detailing the complexities she faced in her global identity as a Black woman, Berrian explores how the love and support of her parents and her developing racial, feminist, and political consciousness--strengthened by her embrace of literature and music of the African diaspora--prepared her to deal with adversity, stereotypes, and grief along the way.
About Dr. Berrian:
Twice Dr. Berrian served as the chair of the Department of Africana Studies at PItt and retired in April of 2015 as Professor Emerita. She originated courses for the department such as Man/Woman Literature, Africana World Literature, Francophone African Literature, Africana Urban Woman, African film, etc.
Dr. Berrian's website includes a complete list of her publications and awards. She has two forthcoming articles about the late Guadeloupean zouk singer, Patrick Saint-Eloi and the Evolution of Gwo Ka into Jazz.