Intercultural Communication Institute

13 | African American Communication and Obama’s Discourse of Transformation

This is a workshop that is both conceptual and experiential, and focuses on understanding and appreciating African American cultural and rhetorical differences and similarities.

Designed for
Interculturalists, diversity specialists, educators, trainers, counselors, and all who wish to enhance their own observational skills.

Objectives
Participants will have the opportunity to:

Discuss and define African American rhetoric and discourse
Examine public and mediated African American discourses including that of Barack Obama
Discuss the significance of rhetorical audiences and the impact of rhetorical devices like signification
Experience how power and authority influence the production and receipt of African American discourses
Skillfully and competently discuss what makes African American communication “African American”
Discuss narratives and counter-narratives about what is authentically Black

Learning Activities
These will include:

Interpretation of popular cultural visual images and technology
Critical analysis of Barack Obama’s January 20, 2009, inaugural address
Discussion of publicly mediated conceptions of African American identity as seen on TV
Brief lectures
Video clips
Small groups
Case studies

Faculty: Ronald L. Jackson II and Tyrome Smith

Dr. Ronald L. Jackson II is a research professor and associate dean of research and faculty development in the College of Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has published nine books, several dozen articles, and is completing several book manuscripts, including the SAGE Encyclopedia of Identity, forthcoming in spring 2010, and a book entitled Culturing Manhood, co-authored with Murali Balaji. He lives in Champaign with his wife and two children.

Tyrome Smith, most recently the vice president of organization development and effectiveness for HBO, is an independent scholar and consultant specializing in the cultural dimensions of corporate life, organization dynamics, and leadership behaviors. Tyrome lives in New Jersey with his wife and two children.