An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States

EVENT DESCRIPTION: Many Black and Indigenous activists and scholars have stated, “There is no land liberation without Black and Indigenous liberation.” Thus, Black and Indigenous solidarity has been placed at the forefront of the anti-racism movement that garnered a lot of attention in 2020. However, what happens to those who embody both identities? How do we achieve this when anti-Blackness is prevalent among Indigenous communities? In this event, Dr. Kyle T, Mays, Afro-Indigenous scholar and author of "An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States" will discuss Black & Indigenous solidarity and liberation movements. He will share his own perspectives and lived experiences as an Afro-Indigenous man navigating both realities. His talk aims to inspire students and the wider UW community to further understand the importance of building Black & Indigenous solidarity while grounding it on our collective histories. This event will make room for conversations that we need to hold in order to collectively heal as Black and Indigenous peoples in a settler colonial world. It will also help us envision a Black and Indigenous future that is grounded on Black and Indigenous solidarity and collective healing.

is an Afro-Indigenous (Saginaw Chippewa) writer and scholar of US history, urban studies, race relations, and contemporary popular culture. He is an Assistant Professor of African American Studies, American Indian Studies, and History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the author of Hip Hop Beats, Indigenous Rhymes: Modernity and Hip Hop in Indigenous North America (SUNY Press, 2018), An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States (Beacon Press, 2021), and City of Dispossessions: Indigenous Peoples, African Americans, and the Creation of Modern Detroit (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2022). He contributed a chapter, “Blackness and Indigeneity” to the New York Times bestseller, 400 Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019, Keisha Blain and Ibram Kendi (eds.), (New York: Random House, 2021).

Dr. Mays' work broadly explores three questions.

1. What is the relationship between Blackness and Indigeneity?

2. How does dispossession in cities shape the lives of Black and Indigenous peoples?

3. How can we imagine and put into praxis a world in the aftermath of settler colonialism and white supremacy?

Due to the presence of our community elders at the event, we are requesting everyone to wear their masks (when not eating).

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Intellectual House, 4249 Whitman Court, Seattle, United States