North America Slavery, Abolition Topic of African and African American Studies Brown Bag Lecture

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Jim Gigantino

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The African and African American Studies Program in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences will host the third forum in its fall 2014 series of brown bag lectures. The final lecture of the semester will begin at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the program’s new home, Memorial Hall 230. All members of the university community are welcome to attend.

James Gigantino, assistant professor of history and a participating faculty member in the African and African American studies program will present “Five Things to Know about Slavery and Abolition in the North.”  His book, The Ragged Road to Abolition: Slavery and Freedom in New Jersey, 1775-1865 was published in October by the University of Pennsylvania Press.  He teaches courses on early American history, the history of slavery and the Atlantic World. Gigantino came to the University in 2010 after earning a doctorate in history from the University of Georgia. 

“Program faculty and graduate students have undertaken some important research on the history of race and the African Diaspora,” said Calvin White, associate professor of history and director of the African and African American studies program. “As faculty move through the scholarly process, the Brown Bag Series brings together an interdisciplinary audience to provide feedback as they revise and develop their work as well as present their final projects to faculty who have given support during its development.  These events help foster the interdisciplinary community that makes our program so special.”

The African and African American Studies Program at the University of Arkansas is an interdisciplinary program that expands on the core disciplines of a traditional liberal arts education.  Through interdisciplinary study, students explore the legacy of the African diaspora and African-descended people’s global experiences and the importance of race with a focus on Africa, the United States and the Caribbean.