What emerging trends, technologies, and voices are shaping contemporary Black diasporic literatures? What new ideas and concepts are trending, in terms of how they are being mapped and assessed? What new and existing pedagogies empower students to think critically and cultivate cultural awareness through the study of these literatures and cultures? 

We invite answers to these questions and more and ask that you submit paper, panel, roundtable, or workshop proposals that may be related to any of the following:

• Reimagining boundaries, including exploring the expanding landscape of Black diasporic literatures and cultures

• Navigating diasporic identities, beyond race and culture, inclusive of genders, sexualities, and lived realities 

• Redefining and redesigning the canon, challenging traditional perspectives and demanding expanding inclusivity

• Decolonizing pedagogies, including strategies for teaching Black diasporic literatures in diverse educational contexts

• Exploring hybridity, which might include examining the fusion of languages, cultures, and genres

• Diasporic narratives of rage, resilience, resistance, and response by examining strategies of survival and liberation

• How might we foster critical thinking and cultural awareness through Black diasporic literatures?

• How might we map new territories and explore emerging trends and voices in contemporary Black diasporic literatures? We are especially interested in contributions from international scholars

• How can we build networks and collaborations to support the study and teaching of Black diasporic literatures and cultures?

While we are especially excited to accept papers on this theme, we will consider panels and individual papers, as space is available, on any themes in Black literature, languages, and pedagogies.

Abstract Submission Deadlines

• Priority Deadline: September 1, 2024 (Acceptance Letters sent by September 30, 2024)

• FINAL Deadline: October 1, 2024

Registration Details: 

• $199 Early-Bird Registration: December 15, 2024 

• $275 Regular Registration: January 15, 2025

• $140 Additional Banquet Tickets: February 15, 2025 (Already must be registered for Convention to purchase)

Submit Abstract for 2025 CLA Convention

 Submit Special Session or Panel for 2025 CLA Convention