Professor Flynn, who has taught Black American Literature
for more than four decades while he was President of the SUNY University
Faculty Senate, nominated James Baldwin to the Board of Trustees for a special
honorary degree traditionally presented at the annual convocation of
Distinguished Professors of the SUNY System.
To enhance this event and to highlight the life and genius
of Baldwin, Joe then organized and led the first SUNY Black Studies-Women's
Studies Symposium on April 21-22, 1985, at the SUNY Albany campus. This event
included many scholars from the Northeast along with Toni Morrison, Florence
Howe, Barbara Smith, and the late Amiri Baraka.
Our current program is funded by Manhattan-based Humanities
NY, a state cultural subdivision of the National Endowment of the Humanities.
The project director for this joint effort is Melanie Miller, the director of
the Alfred Box of Books Library.
At our recent opening evening event, it was decided there is
still room for area students and residents to join this project at its second
meeting on March 27. People will be accepted on a first-come basis. If you wish
to join us, please call Melanie Miller at the Box of Box Library at
607-587-9290 or Joe Flynn at 607-382-1047. Or you may email Melanie at
millerm@stls.org or Joe at flynnjg@alfredstate.edu.
