Call for Papers

The 8th Annual Benjamin A. Quarles Conference

Theme: Labor in America: Perspectives on the African American Contribution

Conference Dates: October 24, 2025

Venue:  Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA

Submission Deadline: August 30, 2025

The Benjamin A. Quarles Conference invites scholars, researchers, and students to submit papers or panel proposals for its 8th annual gathering. This year’s theme focuses on the vital contributions of African Americans and African and the rest of the Diaspora to the growth and development of the United States and the world across diverse fields of labor and creativity.

Call for Proposals

You are invited to submit paper/panel proposals for the 8th Annual Quarles Conference scheduled for October  24, 2025 at Morgan State University. The deadline to submit proposals is August 30, 2025 by 5:00 P.M. EDT . We invite all disciplines in the humanities to submit proposals. 

We welcome submissions that address the following topics:

• Slavery and Enslaved Labor
• Military Service in U.S. Wars
• Migration and Immigration
• Arts and Entertainment
• African Americans in Sports
• Political Engagement, Activism, and Leadership
• Economic Development and Industry
• Black Women, Family, and Community
• Trade Unions and the Labor Movement
• The Workplace and Technology in the 21st Century
• The Criminal Justice System

Presentations are not limited to these topics since the aim is to capture the breadth and depth of the contributions of African American labor and reflect on the venues and creative spaces where these efforts have transformed the national and global landscape.

Submission Guidelines

• Individual Paper Submissions

Please include a 250-300 word abstract, paper title, and your institutional affiliation and a short biography (200 words).

• Panel Proposals

Panels should include a maximum of three presenters. Proposal must include:

• A panel title.
• Titles and abstracts (250-300 words each) for all papers.
• Institutional affiliations for all presenters.

Kindly submit all questions and materials to benjaminquarlesconference@gmail.com by August 30, 2025. We look forward to engaging discussions that honor and expand our understanding of the African American legacy in labor and creativity.

2025 Conference Dates

Thursday, October 23 - Undergraduate High School Opening Presentation - 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Friday, October 24 -  Opening, Keynote Conversation, Presentation Reception - 8:00 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Friday, October 24 -  Reception 5:15p.m. -7p.m.