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Global Speaker Series: Black History Month Speaker Dr. Bettina Love Talks History of Hip Hop and Civic Empowerment

As part of the Global Speaker Series, Newark Academy’s Black History Month Speaker Dr. Bettina Love, an award-winning author and Columbia University professor, discussed the African origins of hip hop culture and civic empowerment to Newark Academy students on Monday, February 27 in the Coraci Performance Hall.

Dr. Love delivered an engaging talk in which she explained how today’s hip hop music culture began with the griots in Africa. Throughout her presentation, she showed several examples of the creative brilliance that has emerged from Black people over hundreds of years as a way to find joy, love and freedom while fighting oppression. The throughline of her discussion was the importance of knowing the history of everyday joys that are still enjoyed every day — students can relish in hip hop music today because it was created as a coping mechanism by those who were enslaved.

“We have to understand that we are deeply connected as a society of people,” said Dr. Love. “So what benefits one group will benefit others.”

Following the presentation, students were able to continue the discussion on a more intimate level through a breakout session with Dr. Love.

Since 2008, NA’s Global Speaker Series has brought distinguished individuals from around the world to address the NA community, enriching students’ understanding and broadening their intellectual horizons. The series is made possible through contributions to the Newark Academy Fund.
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