Deep Study Roundtable
The Deep Study Roundtable is a space for critical inquiry, reflection, and disruption. Drawing inspiration from Baldwin’s call for consciousness, this program seeks to create a learning community where participants examine the complexities of Blackness, confront the realities of anti-Blackness, and grapple with what Saidiya Hartman describes as living in the “afterlife of slavery.”
Our sessions go beyond surface-level critique, unpacking and challenging paradigms that sustain anti-Black logics in education and society. The Black Study Lab is committed to cultivating a scholarly practice that specifies anti-Blackness while embracing the expansive possibilities of Blackness. This initiative reflects our dedication to fostering a space where participants can imagine and embody new ways of thinking and being, rooted in Black liveliness and living.
Purpose and Goals
The Deep Study Roundtable aims to:
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Explore the nuances of Blackness and the unrelenting histories that shape it.
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Examine the structures that perpetuate harm against Black bodies and Black ways of knowing.
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Foster a transformative learning environment that centers Black thought and creates space for generative dialogue.
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Equip participants with resources and frameworks to deepen their understanding of racial realism and anti-Blackness.
Program Structure and Commitment
The semester’s Deep Study Roundtable will convene 3-4 virtual sessions, each lasting one hour. These sessions are open to a broad audience, including students, faculty, and administrators. Each session will focus on a curated selection of readings, accompanied by a set of guiding reflection questions to enhance dialogue and critical engagement. While advance reading is encouraged, sessions will begin with a refresher to ensure accessibility for all attendees.
Faculty in Residence
The Faculty in Residence will play a vital role in deepening the program’s impact by:
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Guiding discussions and enriching conversations with their expertise.
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Curating a working syllabus
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Supporting the program’s goal of disrupting harmful structures and imagining new possibilities for Blackness in education and society.
Holly Graham
The Deep Study Roundtable is directed by Holly Graham, a doctoral student at Penn State, research associate in the Black Study in Education Lab, and architect of this initiative. Together, we hope to build a community that not only critiques but reimagines and enacts the transformative power of Black thought.