By Angelica Garcia-Macias

March 14, 2022

‘Merit is arbitrary’ – (anonymous, out of respect for their vulnerability)

The National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS) was held over a period of three days and was chaired by our very own faculty Dr. Davin Phoenix and Dr. Cory Gooding (USD). The conference centered the Black experiences in an intersectional lens and most of all it made space for scholars and experiences that have not been valued as holding and producing knowledge.

During the conference, I attended the Afro-Latinx Politics, Systemic Violence and Resistance, and Political Beliefs and Frame panels. Within the Afro-Latinx Politics panel, there were discussions of how the exploration of how Blanqueadad in Latin America guides the discussion of how growing Latin communities would influence the US binary racial structure (Blanco 2022). In the Systemic Violence and Resistance panel, there was a contemporary focus on the issues of COVID as Panelist Coles asks what the effect of masks and police interpreting emotions of Black people is wearing masks (2022). This project posed questions on the dangers of the police state acting on their biases on Black emotional intelligence and expression. Throughout the panels, scholars utilized historical timelines to study the dynamics of political identity and Black identity. To highlight this, Samantha Canty showcased how Black women politicians use bond capital to mobilize Black voters and emphasizes the role of Black women in creating a democratic state that is centered on Blackness (2022). Lastly, projects extended beyond the domestic understanding of Anti-Blackness to the global stage. In their work, Stone Richards explores Japanese Black movements through art mediums protesting for Black Lives Matter (2022). 

This conference is an event that should be attended by all and listened to. When I say listen, I mean literally just listen especially for my non-black colleagues. The conference considers what the mainstream Political Sciences field has ignored- the lives of BIPOC people’s experiences in western institutions. The knowledge present in these spaces allows one to gain perspective on the meaning of Blackness globally.

Lastly, the conference did not only provide an academic space but merged the scholar with the realities of being a Black scholar and to an extent a student of color in the ivory tower called academia. In the American Political Science Professional Development roundtable, Dr. Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, the president of NCOBPS and associate professor in the department of African American Studies at UC Irvine, and other faculty members discussed applying their passions to their work. In the journey of academia, there are multiple facets that should be considered in doing research. How does one center and decenter positionality in collaborative and community-based knowledge production? How does one navigate research responsibilities when one’s work is not validated within academia? Panelists discussed the hustle of using different strategies to intertwine their personal passions to access academic funding. Each panelist applied their own academic journey and personal lens in crafting an individualized sense of activism. Scholars discussed that it is important to be focused on your passion, whether it is guiding students through grad school, guiding faculty to the tenure track, or working with communities as community members.

One comment that carries with me to pursue activism in academia is “Pace yourself, you have your whole life” (-anonymous, to respect the candid conversation). I now reflect on the sentiments shared by all panelists- you truly only have one life to live, so savor it to take care of yourself as you care for our community. 

To learn more about NCOBPS click the link: https://www.ncobps.org