Associate professor Kelly Hammond will give a lecture about her new book, China's Muslims and Japan's Empire: Centering Islam in World War II. at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, in New Orleans. Hammond was invited by the Institute for the Study of War and Democracy at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans to give a brief introduction to her book. This will be followed by a conversation with Stephanie Hinnershitz, the museum historian, and questions from the audience. The talk is part of an annual lecture series sponsored by the Baptist Community Ministries of Louisiana. 

Hammond's first book explores the wartime history of Sino-Muslims, a small but vital community in China. imperial Japan considered them to be crucial players in their occupation of North China during World War II. Japan saw opportunities to work with China's Muslim population and create new economic partnerships with Islamic networks around the globe while also strategizing with other Axis powers on how to incorporate Muslims into military policies. But Hammond reveals that Sino-Muslims also had their own goals during the war and made certain demands while living within Japan's wartime empire.

China's Muslims & Japan's Empire is a new look at the importance of faith during war and tells the little-known story of Sino-Muslims in the Asia-Pacific Theater of World War II.  

Hammond is an associate professor of East Asian history in the Department of History. She serves as the associate editor for Modern China at the Journal of Asian Studies and teaches a variety of classes about Modern East Asia. She is currently working on her second book project, tentatively called Islam and Politics in the East Asian Cold War. 

A reception from 5-6 p.m. will precede the event, and Hammond will sign copies of her book following the presentation.

This will be a hybrid event. You can register to attend virtually or in-person.