Haitian Studies Association

Past Conferences

2022 Conference Program – General

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

8:30am: Smithsonian Gallery Tour at NMAAHC (limited slots available to conference attendees)

11:30am & 12:30pm: Haitian Archives Tours (2) at Moorland-Spingarn Research Center/Library (limited slots available to conference attendees)

Moorland-Spingarn staff will provide a tour of the historic research center. You will learn about the Haiti materials housed at the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center. There is a curated exhibit of select materials.
Registered conference attendees who showed interest will receive a sign up email. 

1:00pm – 3:00pm: Gade dèyè pouse devan: Emerging scholars dreaming maroon futures

Location: Meridian International Center

1630 Crescent Place, NW, Washington, DC 20009 (This is 1 mile walk or 16 minute bus ride from Howard Campus)

This reflective workshop is open to all emerging scholars and practitioners including students at all levels and those in the early stages of their careers. We will think together to learn from each other and envision a meaningful future for emergent Haitian studies.

We will raffle off three books that informed this workshop theme to attendees: la paperson, 2017. A Third University Is Possible; Jean Casimir, 2020. The Haitians: A Decolonial History; Crystal Eddins, 2021. Rituals, Runaways, and the Haitian Revolution: Collective Action in the African Diaspora. Come for the free books, stay for the comraderie! RSVP to receive updates and details on the location.

3:00pm – 6:00pm: Check-in and On-site registration in Douglass Hall

4:00pm: Welcome reception in the Blackburn Center

7:00pm: Emerging Scholars Networking Dinner

Location: Gisele’s Creole Cuisine, 2407 Price Ave, Silver Spring MD 20902; (301) 933-1340. (9 miles from Howard University, 45-60 minutes by public transport, 30 minutes by car)

The board of the Haitian Studies Association is pleased to host emerging scholars for a dinner to network and build community with bon mange. Please RSVP as soon as possible to provide an accurate count and indicate dietary restrictions. There will be vegetarian and meat options (no pork) available. Transportation will not be provided but details forthcoming for a meetup location (Yours Truly Hotel or Howard) to car/taxi pool.

Transportation coordination: 
If you would like to take public transportation with a group (bus 79 to red line) please meet at registration desk in Douglass Hall, Howard University at 5:40pm (with appropriate fare)
If you would like to rideshare with others (lyft/uber) meet at the registration desk in Douglass Hall, Howard University at 6:00pm

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 – Howard University

8:00am – 5:00pm: Check-in – Douglass Hall

8:30am – 9:45am: Saturday Session 1 – Douglass Hall

9:45am – 10:00am: Opening Remarks – Douglass Hall

10:00am – 11:15am: Saturday Session 2 – Douglass Hall

11:30am – 12:45pm: Luncheon / Keynote address: Dr. Jemima Pierre, UCLA

“Fugitives of Empire: Haiti and the Paradoxes of Marronage” (Blackburn Ballroom)

1:00pm – 2:15pm: Saturday Session 3– Douglass Hall

2:30pm – 3:45pm: Saturday Session 4 – Douglass Hall

4:00pm – 5:15pm: Plenary 1: Geographies of Marronage (Blackburn Ballroom)

Moderator: April Mayes

Marronage as Belonging: Notions of Citizenship Among Naturalized Second-Generation Haitians in The Bahamas

Ermitte Saint Jacques (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

“Haitijuana”: Haitian Diaspora at the Crossing of Temporary Protected Status and Anti-Blackness in the US-Mexico Border

Amanda Pinheiro (University of California, Santa Barbara)

From Neg Mawon to 400 Mawozo: Racial Capitalism and the Disenfranchised Armed Men in Haitian History

Felix Jean-Louis III (UC Irvine)

7:00pm – 9:30pm: HSA Banquet at Yours Truly, DC


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9 – George Washington University

7:00am – 8:00am: Check-in

8:30am – 9:45am: Sunday Session 1

9:45am – 11:00am: Sunday Session 2

Break: 11-11:15

11:15am – 12:15pm: Plenary 2: Religion as a Site Of Marronage

Moderator:  Elizabeth McAlister

Bertin Louis (University of Kentucky)

Crystal Eddins (University of North Carolina-Charlotte)

Celucien Joseph (Indian River State College)

12:15-1:15pm: HSA Business Meeting/ Town Hall (with lunch)

1:30pm – 2:30pm: Spill the Tea: Emerging and senior scholars

Location: [TBC] George Washington University

Emerging and senior scholars are invited to come together at the close of the conference to pose real questions and honest answers about the challenges of education, scholarship, and careers in Haitian studies in a casual setting.