Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper explores the need for a new framework for historical research and writing about U.S. law and legal institutions, based on Bourdieu’s concept of the juridical field. The paper will define the juridical field in the US case and explore the relationship since 1870 between the juridical field and other institutional-disciplinary complexes, notably history and the social sciences. The paper will give particular attention to history. First it will evaluate the nineteenth century’s “historical school” and the reasons for its collapse. Second, it will analyze attempts made during the twentieth century to reconstruct a history and a historiography (a theory of history) that might once more offer an authoritative narrative of the law, culminating in a critical commentary on the significance of Critical Legal Studies and its offshoot, Critical Legal History, for legal historical practice. It will in particular examine the potential for analysis of law of “critical historicism” – recently praised as the “most exciting work currently being done on law.” The overall intent is to unpack the varieties of American legal history in order to propose and develop an alternative – a reconceptualization of U.S. legal history as a “structural history of national legal practices,” and as such the means to understanding legal phenomena neither as organic nor functionalist, nor as formalist-autonomous nor relatively autonomous, but on entirely distinct terms as the expression of the U.S. juridical field’s rule production process.

Publication Type: Invited Paper
Abstract: Dr. Carter G. Woodson, in his desire to bring African American history to the people, encouraged teachers, community leaders and activists, club presidents, church groups and civic organizations to expose their members to publications that documented the contributions of African Americans to America. Not believing that the only setting to this was an academic one, he opened up many new arenas for dispensing knowledge of the historical of people of color in the United States. He effectively used the concept of public history to teach and educate about African American historical achievements over eighty years ago. I believe that Woodson, one of the earliest public historians, would approve of the use of history clubs, especially at HBCUs, as public history forms. In much the same way as he would approve of students, especially history students, engaging in service learning and community based research. This paper will look at the connection between Dr. Woodson’s twentieth century use of non-academic forums to present African American history to an underexposed population and the focus of twenty-first century history clubs at HBCUs, specifically the University of the District of Columbia, to do the same.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Important dates reinforce historical interpretations of memory. In order to remember some specific event, the collective pauses to pay tribute to a past solitary event that‚s systematically set apart from the constant flow of life. In doing so, dates lend life calenderic rhythm as events are memorialized and celebrated. The dates themselves help to then legitimize the markers of the date as the author of historical realities. For the individual, dates in general help to break up days by building anticipation and giving life meaning in expectation of some celebrated upcoming happening. Date-marking is the chance to circle, in red marker, on the calendars of an otherwise monotonous existences. In the larger scheme of the state, dates act to assure us of the state‚s continuity as we are given faith in the past and stand in anticipation for theauthorized future. In this linear continuum, designated by days and dates, the further anterior the date the better. Usually, the historical description of things said is shot through with the opposition of interior and exterior; and wholly directed by a desire to move from the exterior towards the essential nucleus of interiorityIn this manner, history and memory remain divided and separate discursive entities. For Pierre Nora, history eradicates memory and history is perpetually suspicious of memory, and its true mission is to suppress and destroy it.‰ Nora recognizes true memory as genealogy and that which „installs remembrance within the sacred.‰ True memory is ingrained in natural cycles and celebrates the larger depth of existence. In this memory narrative there are more actors, more agency, and more complications involved in its construction. This interpretation is generally non-linear and generational. How would we know ourselves generationally? Personally, this is a frightful proposition to know myself as my father/mother knew themselves, my grandfather/grandmother knew themselves, etc. etc. This type of knowing consists of tracking oneself through the true memories, or through the narrative itself as opposed to the representation of that narrative, thus making it a far more complicated and chaotic prospect.A literal production of historic narrative in Hawai`i in the early 1900‚s came in the form of political theatre. Curtis Iaukea, who while in service to King Kalakaua, coordinated and managed the King‚s spectacular royal coronation which took place on February 12, 1883 at the bandstand of `Iolani Palace. The King wanted a magnificent event that would honor his majesty and her majesty Queen Kapiolani in a manner befitting royalty after returning from his world tour in 1881. What followed was a production, criticized by some-mostly the white population in government-as being too expensive and lavish an event. In 1929, 46 years after this regal event and after a year of planning and preparing, much of that same population that criticized the King‚s Œspendthrift‚ ways, participated in the reenactment of the actual event at `Iolani Palace. And at this event, Curtis re-planned the royal coronation for a reenactment play by the Territorial Government. Both Curtis and Charlotte Iaukea also re-played themselves in their original roles in the Hawaiian Monarchy for the play. This paper looks at memory and history and the apex of the point of meeting through the personal reminices of my great great grandfather in the Territorial era in Hawai`i's history.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: In an era of concern for clashes of civilizations, and of proposals for dialogues of civilizations, it is possible that the history of the world might usefully be viewed with a focus on the actual intercivilizational dialogues which occurred as civilizations collided, fused, or split apart. A small set of is proposed as suitable for an introductory syllabus on the subject.

Publication Type: Individual Paper
Abstract: This paper examines how historical error became historical fact in the construction of Africa American history. The annual Bud Billiken parade created by the Chicago Defender newspaper and sustained and promoted by the Defender Charities is arguably the largest, most prominent, and longest-running African American parade in the country. The formal claim by the Defender Charities is that this parade began in 1929, an error that has been sustained through various authoritative sources. Moreover, current scholars have mischaracterized the origins of the parade and its symbol, Bud Billiken, as well as inappropriately conflating this celebration with other African American celebratory traditions.