‘Send Back the Money!’ examines Scottish and American relations and Church history, particularly a seminal period of Abolition activity in the nineteenth century. His work sheds light upon nineteenth-century culture, British and American Abolitionists, charismatic leaders such as Thomas Chalmers and Frederick Douglass, and the complex struggles of ecclesiastical politics and the Free Church’s connections to slavery. Mark your calendars!

A non-fiction account of an ex-slave’s life, this story gives a snapshot view of Charleston from 1862-1931 through the eyes of Janie Mitchell based on her own writings. Marie Lou Coombs, whose family employed Janie in her later years, grew up hearing stories of Janie and reading her journal. Lisa Foster crafted Janie’s journal into a compelling story, told in the diarist’s own voice.

Janie Mitchell, Reliable Cook: An Ex-Slave’s Recipe for Living chronicles Janie’s life as well as her relationship with her owners, the Rutledge family, and her later employment with other Charleston families.

Dates: May 14, 2013 – June 5, 2013

Courses Offered:
LTAR 250: Francophone Literature in Translation (taught in English),
POLI 339: Morocco and Contemporary Africa (taught in English),
FREN 361: Current Issues in Morocco, OR FREN 490: Special Topics)

You can Sign Up at the Study Abroad Fair:
Date: January 29
Time: 9 – 2:30
Location: Physician’s Promenade

Check out this video from last year’s trip

Project OKURASE will be conducting its annual Village Health Outreach from July 5-16 in Ghana.  Please know that they have a lot of interest and limited space. So, a registration and deposit deadline has been set for February 15th.

For current International Studies majors, participating in this campaign can help you earn Internship credit and complete your Study Abroad requirement.

To learn more, please contact Lauren Saulino (saulinole@cofc.edu) for the Global Health Outreach Information Packet.

 So the 150^th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation came and went, with Watchnight services all over town and a very jovial Emancipation Day parade on New Year’s Day. Mayor Joe Riley made a proclamation on behalf of the Emancipation Proclamation Association, and President Obama made a proclamation on the occasion of the anniversary, too (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/31/presidential-proclamation-150th-anniversary-emancipation-proclamation). The Post and Courier published a piece by Kirkpatrick Sale on New Year’s Day blaming the EP for racial discord, followed by  a piece just yesterday by our own Dr Bernard Powers arguing that January 1^st be made into a national holiday. Plainly there will be plenty to talk about over the coming months on the EP score.

 As there will be on the desegregation score, too: later this month sees the 50^th anniversary of the official desegregation of Clemson University, when Harvey Gantt—Charlestonian, graduate of Burke High School—became the first African-American student to enroll at Clemson.

With best wishes for a wonderful 2013. Jubilate!

 Simon

Simon Lewis
Professor of English
http://www.upf.com/book.asp?id=LEWISS06
Director—African Studies Program

Associate Director–Program in the Carolina Lowcountry and Atlantic World (http://www.cofc.edu/atlanticworld)

A group of College of Charleston students committed to making a difference will travel to Cameroon, Africa in March to deliver school supplies and soccer balls, and in preparation for the trip, they will gather at the Beatty Center (5 Liberty Street) this Sunday, January 6 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to pack items to be shipped overseas. Meet the team.
The project, Kick It Forward 2013, will provide the opportunity for 1,000 African children to go to school and give them the necessary supplies to stay in school. The College of Charleston team will also create clean water education programs, empower women with micro loans and facilitate a business plan competition for businesses and medical universities in the areas surrounding Cameroon.

“Public education is free to children in Cameroon, but families don’t see the value of buying school supplies when those children could be working in the fields to support the family,” says David Desplaces, associate professor and group advisor. “Very few families have plumbing, the water is contaminated and women are disregarded as bread winners. We want to show them the importance of education and provide them with other opportunities.”

The project is sponsored by the School of Business’s Enactus (formely SIFE) Team in partnership with Possibilities Without Borders, with support of Hapag-Lloy (Charleston), The Digital Corridor, Brain Power Software, SSA Marine, and the John James Company.
Donations have come in from individuals, schools and businesses around the state and so far, the students have collected supplies to create 1,500 school packages, as well as 3,000 dictation books, over 100 soccer balls and 10 pumps, and three rack servers.
If you’d like more information or would like to make a donation, contact David Desplaces at 843.566-5640 or desplacesd@cofc.edu or visit www.kickitforwardcameroon.blogspot.com.