” African American literature is more than stories, poems, and novels. It’s a living testament of our ability to endure, to resist, and to thrive in environments that weren’t designed for us.
From the narratives of enslaved people to the bold voices of the Black Arts movement, our literature has been a mirror of pain, a map of how to navigate the challenges that we face. and a megaphone of our power.”
– Dr. Luke Wood, President Sacramento State University
LISTEN
Dr. Luke Woods was the Keynote speaker at the Givens Foundation’s annual conference conference, From Resistance to Resilience: The Evolution of African American Reading,
Dr. Luke Wood returned to his alma mater, Sacramento State to become its ninth president, a nationally renowned scholar on racial equity with a specific focus on Early Childhood Education and Community Colleges.
Dr. Wood has authored or co-authored 16 books and published nearly 200 articles, focusing on racial inequity in education. Dr. Woods’ bold vision for the university includes 23 strategic action items, including the creation of the Nation’s First Black Honors College, which welcomed its inaugural class of scholars in the fall of 2024.
“From Resistance to Resilience: The Evolution of African American Reading,” was an extraordinary opportunity to champion literacy, cultural equity, and social justice. Held on June 3, 2025, this convening was made possible through the generous support of the Minnesota Humanities Center.
GO DEEPER
LISTEN
The Unwritten Curriculum: How Erasure in Literature Fuels Inequity
At the same conference, Dr. Duchess Harris, a scholar of American Studies and Curator of the Duchess Harris Collection leads this session examining how the omission of African American Literature in classrooms contributes to systemic inequity.
Ink, Identity, and Imagination: Literature as a Catalyst for Black Determination
Ink, Identity and Imagination, was the plenary discussion for From Resistance to Resilience: The Evolution of African American Reading, Enjoy this engaging conversation.
Moderator: Gevonee Ford, founder of the Network for the Development of Children of African Descent
Panelists: Dr. Duchess Harris, scholar, author and curator of The Duchess Harris Collection, Dr. Ebony Aya, founder of the Aya Collective, and Tish Jones, poet and Executive Director of TruArtSpeaks
ENJOY!
Our production team for this episode includes co-producers Lissa Jones and Edie French, technical director Paul Auguston, the voice Yo Derek, and our artist of inspiration Ta-coumba T. Aiken. We thank Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota for supporting this series focusing on the intersection of health, race, and culture.