The 10th Conference on Cuban and Cuban-American Studies of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami will take place on February 26-28, 2015. Please note that the deadline for submission is October 31, 2014.

The conference, organized around the theme “More than White, More than Mulatto, More than Black”: Racial Politics in Cuba and the Americas, will take place at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus in Miami, Florida.

Description: In 1893, the Cuban patriot, journalist, and poet José Martí published his famous article, “Mi raza” (“My Race”). In it he argued against fomenting racial divisions within the context of Cuba’s independence struggle from Spain. His axiom that “man is more than white, more than mulatto, more than black” has been extensively cited since then. Although Martí’s thought has been praised for promoting racial integration and equality, scholars and activists have criticized the practical implications of his model of racial democracy in Cuba and elsewhere.

The Tenth Conference on Cuban and Cuban-American Studies takes Martí’s dictum as a cue for further academic inquiry and public debate. Our main theme, Racial Politics in Cuba and the Americas, invites comparisons between Cuban experiences of race and those of other Latin American and Caribbean peoples (such as Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Haitians, and Brazilians), as well as their diasporic communities. Although we emphasize the racial politics that emerged from the African-European encounter, we welcome analyses focusing on other racialized groups in Cuba and the Americas. We are especially interested in examining the economic, social, and cultural underpinnings of racial politics, as well as their histories, enduring significance, and potential futures.

Guidelines for Presenting Panels and Papers: Although we prefer panel proposals, we will attempt to group individual papers in sessions according to shared themes. Panels will ideally include four paper presenters, a chair (who may be one of the presenters), and a discussant. Panels may feature five paper presentations if they do not include a discussant. Participants may perform two roles at the conference (chair, discussant, roundtable participant, or paper presenter) but may not present more than one paper. Submissions may be in English or Spanish.

We encourage the submission of panels and papers concentrating on any aspects of the main conference theme, but will consider all submissions relevant to the history, economy, politics, culture, society, and creative expression of Cuba and its diaspora.

[For list of suggested topics, see https://cri.fiu.edu/news/2014/call-for-panels-and-papers-tenth-conference-on-cuban-and-cuban-american-studies/ or our previous post https://repeatingislands.com/2014/04/15/call-for-panels-and-papers-10th-conference-on-cuban-and-cuban-american-studies/.]

Proposals for panels or roundtables must include a general description of the theme and one-page abstracts of each participant’s paper. Each presentation will be limited to 20 minutes. The following information must be submitted for each participant: full name, role in the session, academic affiliation, title of presentation, preferred addresses, office, cell, and home phone numbers, fax, and email address. Persons wishing to submit individual papers must present a one-page abstract and all pertinent personal data.

The deadline for submission of all paper and panel proposals is October 31, 2014. Notifications of acceptance (or refusal) will be sent out by December 1, 2014. For further information about the conference and other CRI activities, please visit our website at cri.fiu.edu.

All submissions and requests for information should be sent to cri2015conference@gmail.com.