Sixth Annual Conference Philosophy and Religion in Africana Traditions (PRAT)

Economic Justice in an Age of Abundance and Scarcity

Friday, October 25
10:00 AM- 6:30 PM
The Graduate Center 
Rooms 9205
365 Fifth Avenue, 
New York, New York 10016

Saturday, October 26
10:00- AM- 6:00 PM
Mayday Community Space
176 St. Nicholas Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11237
info@maydayspace.org
L Train to DeKalb Ave

There is no other time in the modern history when such a tiny minority controls such vast
amount of wealth whether cash or kind. The well to do, the very rich, the super-rich, the ultra-rich and even the poor engage in conspicuous consumption. Conspicuous consumption has spread to almost every corner of the earth. In most cities of the industrial world and in large and small towns of most countries, vendors dot the landscape peddling useless ‘trinkets and beads’ from countries, such as, China, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.Meanwhile many among the super-rich engage in the most ostentatious life styles not only in terms of palaces, and yachts but in soliciting firms to conjure up unwholesome pleasures to mitigate their boredom. We are now witnessing the commodification of all values. The age of abundance is here and it is not only among the super-rich. The availability of goods and services for many ordinary citizens in many developed countries have superseded any period in human history. Yet among the citizenry in these same countries and regions there is lack of access and lack of means to acquire the basics for sustenance which lead sometimes to starvation and death.The radical disparity in education, health, housing and basic amenities among peoples within nations is the fundamental scandal on modern life. Abundance everywhere and scarcity all around and within us to the extent that the human person, and society collectively seem to be afflicted with the poverty of the spirit, that is, the ability to cultivate interpersonal relations and maintain a sense of cooperation.

This conference will seek to address the stupendous economic disparity that exists in the U.S.A. and in other countries, large and small and how socio-economic conditions lead to breakdown in social relations and how sometimes economic improvement does not necessarily result in better social relationships. Consideration will be given as to how excessive wealth disorder and income inequality subvert the political process and adversely affect human relations. We will emphasize the link between climate justice and human flourishing. Ultimately our task is not only to fight for a living wage but also restore dignity in work and foster solidarity among
peoples.

Event will be livestreamed here.

For more info please write:

J. Everet Green at: everet@verizon.net

Brittany O’Neal: brittany.oneal@me.com.

PDF program here:  PRAT 2019 Conference Program2

Program of Events:

DAY 1

Friday October 25, 2019 

10:00am – 6:00pm 

Center for Place, Culture and Politics 

The Graduate Center of The City University of New York 

Room 9205 

365 Fifth Avenue 

New York, New York 10016

MORNING SESSION 10:30am – 1:30pm

10:30am – 10:40am Greetings and opening statement: J. Everet Green – Mercy College 

Greetings: Mary Taylor – CUNY The Graduate Center 

10:40am – 12:30am “Economic Justice in an Age of Scarcity and Abundance” 

Speaker: Blanche Curry, Ph.D. – Fayetteville State University 

Chair: Brittany O’Neal, Ph.D. – Lehman College City university of New York 

12:45pm – 2:00pm 

LUNCH 

AFTERNOON SESSION 2:00pm – 6:00pm 

2:00pm – 2:15pm Greetings and Introduction: J. Everet Green 

2:20pm -4:00pm Speaker: Maurice Carney – Friends of the Congo

Topic: “The Scramble for Africa and Pan African Resistance in the 21st Century” Chair: Jameliah Shorter-Bourhanou, Ph.D. – Georgia College and Holy Cross, MA 

4:15pm – 5:30pm Speaker: Matthew Hutcherson Ph.D. -Paine College

Topic: “What is the Meaning of Black Suffering? “ Chair: Blanche Curry , Ph.D., Fayetteville State University 

4:40pm – 5:40pm 

DAY 2

Saturday October 27, 2018 

10:30am – 6:00pm 

MayDay Community Space 

176 Saint Nicholas Avenue 

Brooklyn NY 11237 

MORNING SESSION 10:30am – 1:15pm 

10:30am – 12:00 pm 

Speaker: Richard Hoyen -Activist 

Topic: “Dem Belly Full, But we Hungry” Reggae Philosophy of Inequality. Is inequality characteristic of capitalism and imperialism, its global expression? 

Chair: Jameliah Shorter-Bourhanou Ph.D.- Georgia College and Holy Cross, MA 

LUNCH 

12:00pm- 1:00pm 

AFTERNOON SESSION 2:00pm – 6:00pm 

1;30pm – 3:00pm 

Speaker: Brittany O’Neal, Ph.D. – Lehman College City university of New York 

Topic: “The Particular Problem of Race within a Society of Oppression” 

Chair: Zay D. Green 

3:00pm – 4:00pm “Economic Justice in an age of Abundance and Scarcity: A Students Perspective.” 

Chair: Brittany O’Neal 

4:00pm – 5:45pm 

Sincere gratitude to Mary Taylor at the Center for Place, Culture, and Politics for her support over the past six years in making this annual event possible, to the members of the PRAT Planning Committee for their strong commitment to this project and to Munayem Mayenin for his steadfast belief that a better world is possible 

Members of the PRAT Committee

Everet Green/Brittany O’Neal – Co-Directors

Aminata Cisse, Zay D. Green, Bok-Keem Nyerere, Jameliah Shorter-Bourhanou, Julie Siestreem 

Book Recognition 

Kamari Maxine Clarke’s “Affective Justice” Duke University Press 2019 

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FOR THE SAKE OF ALL MANKIND We humans have never before been responsible for the fate of all life on earth. Are we neurologically, morally, and intellectually equipped for so enormous a task? I fear the answer may be no, for our habits of thought and instinctual responses, indeed, the very structures of our brains, were shaped eons ago, within the narrow confines of tribal and village existence. It took a very long time for an inclusive concept of “mankind” to emerge out of disparate local identities. Yet we revert back, again and again, to hatred and division, behaving in irresponsible ways that threaten the very survival of life on our increasingly damaged planet. Let us finally grow beyond our ancient predispositions, at long last thinking and acting globally, for the sake of all mankind. Enid Bloch

This event is co-sponsored by The Center for Place, Culture and Politics of the Graduate
Center of the City University of New York and HUMANITAS: The Africana Ethical and Cultural Society.

This event is free and open to the public.