PORTSMOUTH — The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire has announced White House correspondent April Ryan will keynote its 13th annual Black New England Conference, a two-day event in October at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester.
The theme of this year’s conference, scheduled to be held Oct. 25-26, is “BLACK INK: African American News from Slave Songs to Social Media.”
Ryan has a unique vantage point as the only black female reporter covering urban issues from the White House. Her keynote address for the event is titled “Under Fire: The State of the Black Press.”
Ryan’s position as a White House correspondent has afforded her unusual insight into the racial sensitivities, issues, and attendant political struggles of the nation’s last four presidents. She can be seen almost daily on CNN as a political analyst.
On behalf of the American Urban Radio Networks, and through her “Fabric of America” news blog, she delivers her readership and listeners — millions of African Americans and close to 300 radio affiliates — a “unique urban and minority perspective in news.” She has been featured in Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Elle magazines.
Ryan is the author of the award-winning book, The Presidency in Black and White, and At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White, where she looks at race relations through the lessons and wisdom that mothers have given their children. Her latest book is Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House.
The 2019 BNEC will explore the varied ways African Americans have produced and spread news. It will examine the roles African American have played in the mainstream media, covering politics, sports, money and social issues, alongside the role black publications like Ebony and Jet played in shaping class aspirations. It will also consider the future of “black news,” and how it might reimagine what it means to be black in America.
From slaves improvising songs to warn of slave patrols or to announce secret religious meetings, to the ways black Twitter both circulates stories that impact black communities and critiques racially-biased narratives told by mainstream media, “Black news” has been integral to black liberation. Black newspapers and magazines have been vehicles for black self-representation and political advancement. John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish wrote in the first issue of their paper Freedom’s Journal in 1827, “We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us,” describing the function of the Black press in a way that still resonates in the 21st century.
Through oral communication, print, websites, and social media, “Black news” has and will continue to shape African American understandings of themselves and resist racist narratives told about them.
The Black New England Conference, now in its 13th year, is an annual two-day gathering where academics, artists, activists, and community members share insights and research on Black experiences, past and present, in New England and beyond. The BNEC is both an academic conference and a celebration of black life and history.
BHTNH Executive Director JerriAnne Boggis said she is excited to partner with SNHU this year to present the BNEC. “Our partnership with UNH has lasted over 10 years with the first Black New England Conference being held there in 2006. As the state’s public flagship university UNH remains an invaluable resource and partner with the trail.”
“The decision to hold this year’s conference at SNHU was based on a number of factors,” continued Boggis. “Our organization is working to establish a statewide presence and partnering with SNHU presented an opportunity to make our organization known outside of the Seacoast. Additionally, Manchester’s geographical centrality and larger diverse community factored favorably in our choice.”
“We are very excited to serve as host this year,” said Jada Keye Hebra, senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at SNHU. “Partnering with the fabulous JerriAnne Boggis and BHTNH to host an event where attendees can honor, celebrate, and learn about our nation’s Black heritage aligns well with SNHU’s strategic efforts to cultivate a climate of inclusion and academic efficacy. Hosting the BNEC allows us to welcome neighbors and friends and signals our commitment to ensuring that our students, faculty and staff are regularly exposed to richly diverse narratives.”
Following the trend of the last BNEC, the conference will conclude with a fashion show featuring clothing from African American designers. The fashion show, entitled “Hot off the Press,” will draw inspiration from media sources dating back to Negro Spirituals which served as a communication tool, to today’s use of social media as movements to discuss civil liberties for all.
2019 BNEC Information
2019 Black New England Conference
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