Race and the Nature of Capitalism: A Political-Economic Assessment
Date: Thursday, May 11
Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: 127 Corwin Hall
Conference papers are available HERE.
The great sociologist Oliver C. Cox once said, “To the social scientist, nothing could be more important than an understanding of the nature of capitalism.” Moreover, an accounting of capitalism, to amend Cox’s statement slightly, cannot be completed without an understanding of the nature of the “race” concept and how the two intersect. Accordingly, this symposium, Race and the Nature of Capitalism: A Political-Economic Assessment, seeks to assemble a group of scholars who have demonstrated a commitment to centering political economy in their work while also furthering our understanding of the shifting nature of racial ideology and its particularities. Among the topics explored will be US labor politics at our current juncture and why they are needed to combat racial inequality (and inequality more generally), the state of contemporary urban politics during an era of immense economic volatility, and how racial ideology operates within these political contexts. Upon conclusion of this program, we hope all participants will leave with a clearer understanding of these and related issues so that we can work towards charting a path towards a more equitable future for all.
Format:
10 Minutes – Author’s Opening Statements/Brief Presentation
5 Minutes Discussant Comments
30 Minutes Q&A
9 - 9:45 am
Arrivals & Check-Ins/Breakfast
9:45 - 10 am
Welcome (Jared Clemons)
10 - 11:30 am
Session 1: Race, Capitalism and Historical Development
“Who Represents Farmworkers? Race, Labor Policy, and Political Inequality”
Paul Frymer
Princeton University
(Discussant: Darius Cozart, Princeton University)
“Race, Reconstruction, and the Politics of Debt Relief”
Chloe Thurston
Northwestern University
(Discussant: Claudia Cervantes Perez, Princeton University)
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
LUNCH
1 - 2:30 pm
Session 2: Beyond the Race vs Class Debate
“Contemporary Race Theory and the Problem of History: A Critique”
Zine Magubane
Boston College
(Discussant: Claudia Cervantes Perez, Princeton University)
“Towards an Afro-realist Critique of Class Reductionism”
Lester Spence
Johns Hopkins University (Discussant: Jasanté Howard, Princeton University)
2:30 - 2:45 pm
Coffee Break
2:45 - 4:15 pm
Session 3: Political Resistance and Mobilization
“Where Do We Go from Here: Black Culture and the Politics of Counterrevolution”
Marcus Board, Jr.
Howard University
(Discussant: Jasanté Howard, Princeton University)
“From Redlining to Repair”
John N. Robinson III
Princeton University
(Discussant: Darius Cozart, Princeton University)
4:15 - 4:30 pm
Closing Remarks (Jared Clemons)