HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MEMORY I. Fundamental Questions of Human Existence II. Geography Speaks to Fundamental Issues of Orientation, Community and Identity III. Community, Identity and Memory IV. The Historical Geographic Context of Remembering and Forgetting V. Sites of Memory VI. Sources of Memory Geography and Worldview VII. Seeing Oneself in Diasporan Context VIII. Cartographic and Visual Representations of African American History

The Fundamental Questions of Human Existence What am I?-Physical/Biological Facts of Life Who am I? Cultural Context of One’s Life Why am I? Purpose /Raison d’Etre How am I?Action/Praxis Where am I? Absolute and Relative Location/Situational Context Knowing Who You Are Depends on Knowing Where You Are

Geography Speaks to Fundamental Issues of Orientation and Identity What is the Worst Feeling in the World? Being Lost Geography is Central to Grounding Your Orientation in the World Knowing Where You’re Going Depends on Knowing Where You Have Been The Need for a Map The Need for Understanding Relations, Patterns & Distributions of Phenomena That Impact Life

Community, Identity & Memory Modern Notions of Identity: I think therefore I am Traditional Notions of Identity: I am Because We Are & Because We are Therefore I am Identity and Community Context Interwoven Internal Dynamics of Community External Relations Between Communities

The Historical Geographic Context of Remembering and Forgetting Memory formation as a process of remembering the particulars of one’s lived experiences in a specific place, city, neighborhood, home and or household As we move from on place to another from one generation to the next The forgotten past as those things, people and events that we choose to not do, remember or talk about Generational transmission of memory, secrets and silences

Sources of Memory Archival Bibliographical Memories of Elders and Ancestors Family Albums, Bibles and Scrapbooks Family Cookbooks, Clothing, Jewelry & Other Heirlooms Stories, Songs & Myths Legends & Lies Legacies of Silence

Sites of Memory Physical & Cultural Landscapes Museums and Parks Historic Landmarks of Community Life & Significant Events Community Building as a an Act of Human Agency, Resistance & Self-Determination Making History & Making Geography Evolution of Historical Neighborhoods & Business Districts

Geography and Worldview

Seeing Oneself in Local/ Diasporan Context

Cartographic and Visual Representations of African American History