Lecture: Joy and Pain, the Representations of Black Life from Slavery through the Gilded Age
On October 3, 2023, the campus of Bucknell University hosted Erica Armstrong Dunbar, an esteemed American Historian from Rutgers University. Her lecture on the representations of joy and pain in Black life from slavery through the Gilded Age captivated the audience from start to finish. Opening with a poignant quote from Woodrow Wilson, “If ‘history were lightning’ it’d be Ida B. Wells.” Dunbar set the stage for an exploration into the power of Black women as historical figures.
Dunbar’s emphasis on Ida B. Wells as a beacon of historical transformation resonated deeply. She illuminated how Wells’ work shifted the narrative, showcasing Black women’s resilience and innovation amidst the backdrop of pervasive trauma and oppression. For Dunbar, delving into Black women’s history meant transcending the confines of Black pain and traumatic events to unearth stories of joy and freedom.
The journey through Dunbar’s research revealed remarkable narratives of agency and choice. From Ona Judge’s autonomous decision to run away, marry, and raise a family outside the bonds of slavery and its brutal reproduction system to Harriet Tubman’s multifaceted identity beyond her iconic maternal role in the Underground Railroad, these stories challenged conventional narratives and celebrated the complexities of Black life.
Transitioning into the Gilded Age, often referred to as the nadir in critical black studies, Dunbar confronted the heightened terror of racial violence and oppression. Yet, amidst this darkness, she highlighted the importance of narratives like HBO Max’s “The Gilded Age,” which depicts the nuanced experiences of Black elites grappling with social power dynamics, a rarity on television.
In her closing remarks, Dunbar underscored the power of Black joy as a form of resistance and progress. She urged the audience to approach history with a new lens, one that embraces the complexity of Black experiences and counters prevailing narratives of anger and violence. Drawing inspiration from Beyoncé’s anthem “Formation,” Dunbar emphasized the need to elevate Black joy and humanity in the collective consciousness.
Overall, Dunbar’s lecture at Hislop Auditorium served as a powerful reminder of the importance of reclaiming and celebrating Black joy in historical narratives. By amplifying stories of resilience, agency, and triumph, she challenges the prevailing narrative of suffering and oppression. As we reflect on her words and the full lives she shared, let us heed her call to embrace the full spectrum of Black experiences, realize blackness is not a monolith, and ensure that joy takes its rightful place in the center of our told history.