Organized by the UCLA Department of African American Studies

This symposium will celebrate the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin’s ground breaking and historic Album, Amazing Grace.

Topics will include:

How Sweet the Sound: Blues Ministry and Black Power
Soul Print: Music, Place and Albums
The People’s Queen: Queering Aretha’s sound

Speakers will include:

Marcus Anthony Hunter, UCLA
Lynee Denise, Music Scholar, DJ, CSULA
Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, Faithful Central Bible Church
Scot Brown, UCLA
Zandria Robinson, Rhodes College
Salamishah Tillet, Rutgers University
Kyle Mays, UCLA
Joi Gilliam, Musician and Singer
Mark Anthony Neal, Duke University
Fredara Hadley, Oberlin College and Conservatory

Co-sponsored by:

• UCLA Department of History
• UCLA Ralph Bunche Center for African American Studies
• Robin D.G. Kelley, Distinguished Professor and Gary B. Nash Chair in American History
• Pedro Noguera, Distinguished Professor of Education, UCLA
• NCBW (National Congress of Black Women) San Gabriel Chapter