Looking Backward versus Going Backward: Sankofa African American Resistance

Dr. Lee Butler, Jr. explores Africana history, focusing on Sankofa as a tool for understanding freedom and resistance.
About this Event

Looking Backward versus Going Backward: Sankofa as African American Resistance

Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 9:00AM - 12:00pm CST | HYBRID
Registrants can participate IN-PERSON or online, via Zoom.
TICKETS: $10 (+ Processing Fee)

Check-in begins at 8:30AM

Oblate School of Theology, 285 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, TX 78216

Whitley Theological Center - Classroom 105

Refreshments will available in the WTC Student Lounge

DESCRIPTION

The study of Africana history in the Americas is a study of the meaning of freedom in the Atlantic World. Although it may be declared that the study of American freedom is a description of the revolutionary spirit framed by the battle cry, “Give me liberty, or give me death,” bringing an Africana hermeneutic to the claim of freedom exposes other dynamic themes like slavery and resistance. Defining resistance as the instinctual motivation to be free, this lecture resists the inclination to focus on Black resilience, and instead focuses on Sankofa as resistance and advocates looking backward to understand context without going backward and surrendering African American freedom.

The presentation is sponsored by Sankofa Institute for African American Pastoral Leadership.

PRESENTER

The Rev. Dr. Lee H. Butler, Jr. is the 17th President and CEO of the Iliff School of Theology, starting July 1, 2023. Previously, he was Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean at Phillips Theological Seminary and the William Tabbernee Professor of the History of Religions and Africana Pastoral Theology. Before Phillips, he was the Distinguished Service Professor of Theology and Psychology at Chicago Theological Seminary, where he became the first African American full professor and held various leadership roles. Dr. Butler earned his PhD and Master of Philosophy from Drew University and holds degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary), and Bucknell University. He has been active in various scholarly and professional organizations, including the Society for the Study of Black Religion and the American Academy of Religion.

OST STUDENT / FACULTY / STAFF REGISTRATION

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REFUNDS

· Refunds up to 7 days before the event.

· All refunds are subject to a 10% processing fee.

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