Bakari Sellers | The Moment: Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn't and How We All Can Move Forward Now

In 2006, Bakari Sellers defeated a twenty-six-year incumbent State Representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. The state’s 2014 Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, he currently heads the strategic communication and public affairs team at the Strom Law Firm in Columbia, South Carolina and works as a CNN political analyst. Recently named to TIME’s “40 Under 40” list, he is the author of the New York Times bestseller My Vanishing Country, a memoir and historical analysis of the lives of America’s often-overlooked black working-class, and hosts the Bakari Sellers Podcast, a twice-weekly show that addresses a variety of cultural and political topics. In The Moment, Sellers examines the politics and policies that most affect the future of Black Americans, including inequities in education, healthcare, and policing.

Cafecito @ Cuba Libre

Join Faculty Director Dr. Amalia Dache for our annual trip to Cuba Libre to practice Spanish and enjoy cultural cuisine

Music & Mentorship w/ Mr. Jack Drummond

The Philadelphia Strings and Mentorship Program is a community-based initiative that aims to introduce Black boys to the world of string instruments, namely the violin, viola, cello, and bass. The program will be hosted every Saturday at the University of Pennsylvania, where participants are immersed in the art of music and engaged in a rite of passage program. The program's advisors offer guidance, wisdom, and mentorship to help the boys navigate the journey from boyhood to manhood. 

The program has a multifaceted purpose. First, it aims to provide an enriching environment where Black boys can discover and hone their musical talents. Second, it offers a structured rite of passage that instills values, resilience, and a sense of belonging. Finally, the program aims to leverage the healing power of music and restorative practices to mend damaged relationships and promote anti-violence, catalyzing positive change within the broader Philadelphia community. 

The program's mission is to cultivate the musical talents of Black boys in Philadelphia, allowing them to find their voice through the strings and equipping them with the life skills and guidance needed to become confident, compassionate, and contributing members of society. The program's vision is to create a Philadelphia where the harmonious notes of string instruments serve as a symbol of unity, hope, and transformation. Through the combined power of music and mentorship, the program seeks to lay down a foundation where Black boys grow into empowered men, fostering a city that heals from its past and strides confidently towards a peaceful future. 

Central to the program's ethos is the integration of restorative practices. Recognizing the challenges faced by many of the participants, the program aims to create a safe space where healing can begin. By mending damaged relationships and promoting dialogue, the program believes that it can drive anti-violence initiatives that will not only resonate within the confines of the program but ripple outwards into the heart of Philadelphia. 

ASE ACADEMY

ASE ACADEMY - Mentorship Program with Penn Students and local Philadelphia Community Middle School and High School residents. 

Bible Study with Dr. Audrey

Hey everyone:  Interested in Bible Study in a supportive space of Du Bois College House?  '

Join our weekly Bible Study! 

When:     Sundays @4pm
Who:       All are welcome!

Why:       To study the Word of God, connect, support one another, and have fun!

Where:    Seminar Room A, Du Bois College House

We are currently exploring the love of God for humanity as well as our identity and value through His eyes!

Dr. Audrey Mbeje

Du Bois Faculty Fellow

Zulu In Residence with Dr. Audrey (PC)

Day & Time:  Mondays @ 6pm - 7:30 PM 
Credit-related Details:  ZULU (Zulu in Residence)
RSVP to:  mbeje@sas.upenn.edu(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail)

Credit: 0.5 CU

Location: W.E.B. Du Bois College House | Seminar Room A 

Join the Zulu in Residence Program Community (PC) to learn (about) the language and culture of the Zulu people of South Africa in the comfort of a much relaxed environment of the Du Bois College House!  
 
You can join the Zulu in Residence PC for credit (0.5 CU) and/or just for fun to engage with members of the PC. If you are interested in earning credit for the PC, it is listed as ZULU 0800 680.  You can only sign up for credit during the Course Selection Period; so, keep in mind the deadline for Fall course selections!

Program Description
 

Du Bois College House is committed to advancing the legacy of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois through programs that share knowledge and experience of people of African descent.  The Zulu in Residence program will expose students to the language and culture of the Zulu people of South Africa in a semi-formal and relaxed setting in Du Bois College House.  The program is designed to impart basic communicative skills and cultural nuances embedded in the use of the Zulu language. Unlike students of other world languages and cultures such as European languages which are easily accessible through various media and speech communities in this country, students interested in African languages and creoles spoken in the African diaspora face the challenge of cultural distance due to lack of exposure to these languages and cultures in their immediate environments.  The program will bridge this cultural gap by engaging students through movies, songs, pertinent museum experience, and cultural activities available on the internet. Students will also engage in hands-on activities to make and experience Zulu cultural products, e.g. Zulu food.  The program also will provide a space for students to make conscious linguistic and cultural comparisons between Zulu and other dialects of English and/or creoles spoken by people of African descent in the diaspora, e.g. features of Ebonics (African American Vernacular) that are similar to those of Zulu as well as some loan words from African languages into language varieties of the African diaspora such as “kata” (Jamaican Patois) and “inkatha” (Zulu) for a roll of cloth on top of the head to cushion the skull from the weight of a head load.  Students will perceive language varieties of the African diaspora as systematic and logical dialects with features that can be traced to African language systems.  There will also be discussions of the influence of the African diaspora on cultures in Africa, e.g. African-American influence on Zulu music.

Please note: students interested in this course community do not have to apply for this particular community; however, you will need to indicate Du Bois College House as your top housing interest when completing the housing application. 

Opportunities:  Zulu in Residence participants will be eligible to apply for the Fulbright-Hays Zulu Group Project Abroad (GPA) in South Africa during the summer.  For more details on the Fulbright-Hays Zulu GPA, reach out to Dr. Audrey Mbeje, Director of the Fulbright-Hays Zulu GPA in South Africa.

Table for Ten Dinner w/ Dean Erika James, The Wharton School

Join Faculty Director, Dr. Amalia Daché & Resident Advisor Ruth Oyerokun for an intimate conversation with our Table for Ten guest, Dean James from the Wharton School. Registration Required.

Dinner will be provided | Registration opens soon!

Dean Erika James, appointed as the dean of the Wharton School in 2020, is an organizational psychologist renowned for her expertise in crisis leadership and workplace diversity. Formerly the John H. Harland Dean at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, she's widely recognized for her groundbreaking work in education and corporate leadership, including spearheading innovative executive programs like the Women’s Leadership initiative at the University of Virginia’s Darden School. Dean James, a prolific author and sought-after thought leader, holds board positions at Morgan Stanley and cultural institutions like The Philadelphia Orchestra, while also serving on advisory boards for leading international schools of economics and management.

Ubuntu - Trotting the Globe w/ Dr. Audrey Mbeje

More details Coming Soon! 

End of Year Celebration - Student Leaders & House Faculty

End of Semester Celebration 

House Meeting - Move Out Information

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