rdi.emory.edu - Race and Difference Initiative

PHI will document and collect oral/written history information concerning the various migrations to Atlanta over the last half-century in three overlapping phases: (1) A cultural mapping of the metropolitan area, including what diasporic communities are here and where they are located, and the creation of a network/comprehensive database of contacts, organizations, and community leaders; (2) The collection of data about these communities, including oral and written histories collected by students and faculty, an electronically based project like a Wikipedia that would self-selectively attract written histories of Atlanta communities, and a series of town hall/ public seminar discussions on cross-cutting community issues (like health care, disability services, public education); and (3) The packaging and distribution of collected material possibly in the forms of online resources, a multipart public television program documenting the project and its outcome, a city guide to Atlanta’s cultural history, a national conference that addresses Atlanta’s complex ethnic and international makeup. Comprehensive knowledge of the history and makeup of the various international components of the Atlanta metropolitan area will be of immense value to larger discussions of race and ethnicity, local and global health, and religious diversity.

To support the Public Humanities Initiative, the Race and Difference Initiative supplies start-up programming funds and a half-time program coordinator.