Black Aesthetics and African Centered Cultural Expressions: Sacred Systems in the Nexus between Cultural Studies, Religion and Philosophy was a three-week summer institute, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, to give college and university teachers and independent scholars the opportunity to engage in discussions related to the black aesthetic, while seeking ways to broaden and revive interest in this area of scholarship for future research and intellectual inquiry.

The three-week institute was hosted on the Emory University campus July 13 – August 1, 2014.

 “… building bridges across the city of Atlanta in an effort to understand the multiple meanings associated with black art, its production and its ongoing relevance as a medium of liberation. We hope to revive interest in this area of scholarship for future research and intellectual inquiry.” – Pellom McDaniels III, Institute Co-Director

Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Header Image: Detail from an illustration by J. Biggers for Lorenz Graham’s 1966 book I, Momolu. Courtesy of the John Biggers Archive in the Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library at Emory University.