Hip-Hop Artist and Activist Jo Dalton Will Make "Virtual Visit" to Grinnell College Feb. 26 to March 12
News Releases 2013-03-15
Summary:
Jo Dalton—a leading French-African hip-hop artist, activist, street philosopher, and taekwondo champion—will make a "virtual visit" to Grinnell College—via videoconference—from February 26 to March 12. During this time, he will offer public lectures on hip-hop, racism, street activism, and gangs and gangsta rap.
His March 7 event will feature panelists including Professor Griff, formerly of Public Enemy.
All events will be conducted in French with English translation.
Due to visa issues related to the civil war in the Central African Republic (Dalton's birth country), all of Dalton's events will occur through videoconferencing. This will be an experiment in how new technologies can be used to support the efforts of international activists with travel limitations.
Public Events Dalton will participate in several videoconference events at Grinnell from Tuesday, Feb. 26 to Tuesday, March 12. He will videoconference in for class visits and lunch discussions with Grinnell College students. He also will participate in four public events. These events are open to the public at no charge, and no tickets are required.
Thursday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m. Harris Cinema Lecture: "Jo Dalton: The Autobiography of an Urban Hero" After an introduction by professor Kesho Scott and a screening of the trailer to Dalton's autobiographical film, Dalton will discuss his new autobiography, "Jo Dalton: The Heart of the Gang" (co-authored by Cristina L'Homme).
Monday, March 4, 5 p.m. Room 101, Joe Rosenfield '25 Center Lecture: "Gangs and Gangsta Rap: The Gray Zone of Street Identity" Dalton and hip-hop scholar Mike Benitez will lead a discussion about controversies related to gangs and gangsta rap.
Tuesday, March 5, 4:15 p.m. Steiner Hall, Room 306 Lecture: "A Street Critique of French Ideologies of Race and Racism" In this philosophy colloquium, Dalton will discuss French ideologies of racism. More information is available at http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/philosophy/colloqiumfall2012-spring2013.
Thursday, March 7, 7:30 p.m. Harris Cinema Transnational Hip-Hop Panel Panel discussion of the origins and aesthetics of French and American hip-hop. Featuring Dalton; Professor Griff of Public Enemy; Khalid el-Hakim, founder and director of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum; hip-hop scholar Mike Benitez, director of intercultural engagement and leadership at Grinnell College; and scholar/activist Roberto Toledo, doctoral fellow and lecturer in the Philosophy Department at Grinnell College.
About Jo Dalton Born in Central Africa to a former member of France's "Senate of the Community," Dalton was raised in the poorest neighborhoods on the edge of Paris and received what he describes as an alternative education. He has used his experience as a former gang leader for the Black Dragons—a well-known anti-skinhead gang that advances American hip-hop and black militancy in France—to spark dialogue among French, American and African black cultures.
About Professor Griff Rapper and spoken-word artist Professor Griff is a member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy, where he served as "head of the Security of the First World." More information at http://www.publicenemy.com.
About Khalid el-Hakim Khalid el-Hakim is founder and director of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, a traveling table-top exhibit depicting African-American memorabilia spanning slavery to hip-hop. The museum presents historical artifacts to school systems, communities, colleges and universities throughout the nation.
About Mike Benitez Michael Benitez is director of intercultural engagement and leadership at Grinnell. His office promotes diversity discussions, educational growth and cultural awareness in and beyond the campus community.
About Roberto Domingo Toledo Roberto Toledo is a one-year faculty member in the Philosophy Department at Grinnell College. He specializes in Latin American and Latino philosophy and critical race theory. He has conducted field research in France and Brazil, exploring the connections between racism and hip-hop culture in the two countries.
Sponsors Dalton's visit to Grinnell College is sponsored by the departments of philosophy, sociology, anthropology, American st