Annual Conference

Faculty & Community Books Showcase

The Institute on Black Life's 2025 Annual Conference will center the theme of Black Joy. Black Joy is a powerful lens through which we can understand the full breadth of Black life, identity, and resilience. This conference seeks to explore and celebrate the dynamic ways Black individuals and communities cultivate joy in the face of personal and systemic challenges. We invite scholars, artists, activists, and practitioners to engage in thoughtful discussions on the varied functions and expressions of joy, as well as the contexts in which “joy” attains cultural, social, and political value. 

In addition to hosting panels, short film screenings, and artistic performances, IBL also invites USF faculty and community members who have recently published books (since 2019) related to the study of black life to promote their works at a book fair on Thursday, February 6th. The conference will take place from 11:00am - 5:00pm and will be followed by a reception. Authors will be encouraged to attend the book fair in person to promote their work from 11:00am-1:00pm and are invited to join for lunch immediately thereafter. However, we encourage you to submit your works even if you are unable to attend the book fair at the specified hours. Additionally, we will work with the University bookstore to have copies of your book available for purchase at the conference.