AmericanStudies

On Monday, May 19, WEAA’s The Marc Steiner Show hosted a panel discussion remembering the life and legacy of Malcolm X. The day would have been his 89th birthday. American Studies Assistant Professor Kimberly Moffitt participated in the discussion and shared her thoughts on why Malcolm X might not play as significant a role with young learners as other activists during his time. “A lot of that has to do with him not fitting the paradigm of what we consider to be acceptable activism,” Moffitt said. “At that point in time, even in the midst of a very radical period in our country’s… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on The Marc Steiner Show

On Saturday, April 26, Kimberly Moffitt participated in a panel discussion at Baltimore’s Everyman Theatre as part of its World of the Play series. The event, called “Race and Representation: Our Greatest Accomplishment. Our Greatest Shame,” featured panelists who shared their commentaries on race, theatre and film, drawing from the current production at Everyman, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage. The discussion was broadcast May 2 on The Marc Steiner Show. Moffitt, an assistant professor of American studies, discussed how the play applies to present day society. “What I thought was most interesting about Lynn Nottage’s work is that it makes the evolution of… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on The Marc Steiner Show and in The Baltimore Sun

In the latest in a series of articles for the “City Folk” section of City Paper, American Studies Folklorist in Residence Michelle Stefano writes about a former steelworker who recently was awarded a prestigious poetry prize. Stefano’s profile of Afaa Michael Weaver titled, “Working-Class Hero,” was published April 23. In the column, Stefano traces Weaver’s journey from working at Sparrows Point Steel Mill to becoming a full professor in the English department at Simmons College, where just last month he was awarded the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, a $100,000 prize given by Claremont Graduate University each year for an outstanding published collection.… Continue Reading Michelle Stefano, American Studies, in City Paper

Kimberly Moffitt, an assistant professor of American studies, participated in a panel discussion on The Marc Steiner Show on April 10 that focused on what the true meaning of “happiness” is in the context of WEAA’s Happiness Spring Membership Drive. The panelists discussed the pursuit of happiness and what it meant to the founders of the United States, what it means to Americans today and how it’s possible to create a world where everyone has the right to happiness. During the program, Moffitt weighed in on her view of the definition of happiness. “I think it does mean freedom, and I… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on The Marc Steiner Show

In their second article in a series of essays for the “City Folk” section in City Paper, American Studies Assistant Professor Nicole King and Folklorist in Residence Michelle Stefano profile Courtney Speed, a cosmetologist and community leader. The essay, titled, “Days of their lives,” was published March 26. The article focuses on Speed and her devotion to Turner Station, a neighborhood at the tip of Dundalk in Baltimore County where she has lived since the 1960s. King and Stefano describe Speed’s time working at a barbershop that her husband owned, and later opening the Thomas and Martha Allmond Economic Development Center which trains young… Continue Reading Nicole King and Michelle Stefano, American Studies, in City Paper

On Wednesday, March 12, The Marc Steiner Show hosted a national news roundup segment covering a wide range of topics, including discussion of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and the death of Jackson, Miss. Mayor Chokwe Lumumba. Kimberly Moffitt, an assistant professor of American studies, was a guest on the national news roundup panel and weighed in on several topics over the course of the discussion, including news surrounding CPAC. “There was this rallying around these exciting statements being made, but there wasn’t much depth to it,” Moffitt said. “I think it’s a regurgitation of the same old, same old, as… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on The Marc Steiner Show

American Studies Assistant Professor Nicole King and Folklorist in Residence Michelle Stefano are starting a series of essays for the “City Folk” section of City Paper. They will be writing about interesting people they encounter during their travels around Baltimore. The first essay in the series titled “Different Presence” was published on January 29. King and Stefano write about Robert Williams, who stands on the corner of Hollins Street and South Arlington Avenue and runs “New Day” gallery which houses a collection of African masks, sculptures and other collectibles. The essay looks at William’s motivation for running the gallery and examines… Continue Reading Nicole King and Michelle Stefano, American Studies, in City Paper

Challenges facing adjunct professors were among topics of discussion on the  “Marc Steiner Show” on Wednesday, November 13.  Kimberly Moffitt, assistant professor of American Studies, joined other panelists in talking about many of the issues adjunct professors are dealing with, including low pay, little job security, and often no benefits. The discussion covered a wide range of issues, including how many of the struggles adjunct professors face ultimately end up trickling down to the students they teach. “For me, I’m always trying to think about the students for these types of issues, so when I think about what the future… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on the Marc Steiner Show

American Studies Assistant Professor Nicole King is leading a talk on a case study from her book Sombreros and Motorcycles in a Newer South: The Politics of Aesthetics in South Carolina’s Tourism Industry. The event is part of the museum’s late nights for young adults series. King will discuss Alan Schafer and the significance of his legacy, including how he created South of the Border. The talk is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at The Jewish Museum of Maryland on Wednesday, October 23rd. For more information, click here.