BGHRA 2011

Noah Sow: Photo courtesy of anatol.de

The inaugural International Black German Conference was held from August 19 to 21, 2011, at the German Historical Institute (GHI) in Washington, DC.

With the theme of “Strengthening Transatlantic Connections,” the conference hosted guests and presenters from the international Black German community in Germany and the United States.

The keynote speaker was Noah Sow, the acclaimed journalist, musician, producer and author of “Germany Black & White” (2008), who spoke about “Geteilte Geschichte: The Black Experience in Germany and the US.

In cooperation with the Humanities Council of Washington, DC, the convention also featured an award ceremony for Hans J. Massaquoi, who was given the “Champion of the Humanities Award” in honor of his lifetime achievements as an author, journalist, and cultural ambassador. Accepting the award at the convention on behalf of Mr. Massaquoi was his son, Hans J. Massaquoi, Jr.

About Noah Sow
Noah Sow, born and raised in Bavaria, has been working in radio since age seventeen. She became known mainly as a radio host in personality shows on WDR Einslive, HR3, Radio Fritz, and YouFm, as well as through numerous TV activities.

Noah Sow has been living in Hamburg since 1998. This multi-talented musician, artist, playwright, author and producer has also made a name for herself as a composer, performer and recording artist. She has been touring the globe with her music for over two decades and releases music on her own record label Jeanne Dark Records under her nom de guerre „NOISEAUX“ (www.noiseaux.com), with many of her songs dealing with political issues.
It was never a question for Noah Sow to look away and ignore grievances. In 2001 she initiated the founding of the association der braune mob e.V., the first Black German mediawatch organization (www.derbraunemob.de), whose goals she is actively committed to as chairperson.

Deutschland Schwarz Weiss

As a theorist with a hands-on approach, Noah Sow gives lectures, presentations and keynotes in Germany, the U.S. and abroad, in her focus fields of study art, critical media analysis, constructions of normativity in language and society, structures of dominant discourse, counter-racism policies and practices and Black German studies.
Noah Sow’s work as a visual and conceptual artist revolves mainly around deconstructing the fundament of body//gaze in diasporic contexts.

Her Book Deutschland Black & White is based on her extensive experiences as an anti-racism activist.
The Author’s Website: www.noahsow.de