Georgia State University’s (GSU) Global Education Initiative (GEI) is currently conducting a four-week seminar titled “Fostering Afro-Brazilian Curriculum Development and Research” from May 30 to June 24, 2024. The preparation for this seminar included weekly orientation workshops throughout the spring. Led by GSU’s Center for African American Studies and Activities (CASA), the Center for the Study of Africa and its Diaspora (CSAD), the Department of Africana Studies, and the Department of World Languages and Cultures, this initiative provides exceptional educational and research experiences by transcending boundaries within the African Diaspora.
Hosted by the Steve Biko Cultural Institute (ICSB) in Pelourinho, the program features seminars in Portuguese and Afro-Brazilian history and culture, along with local excursions. Participants, including faculty, advanced undergraduates, and K–12 educators, integrate their learnings into courses and research, enhancing their Portuguese skills and understanding of Afro-Brazilian culture.
Professors Lakeyta Bonnette-Bailey and Elizabeth West are leading the program. Dr. Bonnette-Bailey is focusing on hip-hop and political activism in Afro-Brazilian culture, while Dr. West is exploring Brazil’s representation in African American literature and art.
CSAD's graduate student, Safiya Miller, is assisting both directors and pursuing her research on displacement experiences among Afro-Brazilians and African Americans.
The program aims to foster future collaborations between GSU, metro Atlanta, and Salvador, Bahia, creating an archive of resources on Afro-Brazil’s significance in the Americas.