Call For Papers: 2027 ALA Symposium

“Music and the American Literary Imagination” 

January 28 – January 30, 2027

Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville

210 Molloy Street

Nashville, TN   37201 

The African American Literature and Culture Society is looking to sponsor 1-3 panels at the upcoming “Music and the American Literary Imagination” American Literature Association Symposium. We invite abstracts (of no more than 250 words) for presentations and will also consider fully formed panel proposals (of no more than 500 words). Individual presentations and panel proposals should include a brief vita or description of each presenter’s qualifications. 

Inspired by the symposium’s theme, we encourage the submission of papers and proposals for panels that highlight the influences of music on African American literature, including but not limited to ragtime, blues, jazz, gospel, country, or hip-hop music. Given the symposium’s location, we also welcome presentations that focus on the influences of music on Black writers writing from or about Tennessee. 

Please send abstracts or proposals to Sabrina Evans-Rangel (sabrina.evans@howard.edu) and Justin Smith (JustinSmith@rmc.edu) no later than November 6, 2026. Include your name and email with the abstract along with a brief vita and any requests for A/V equipment. Presenters must be members of AALCS by the time of the conference. Information about the Society and how to join can be found at the AALCS website: https://aalcsblog.wordpress.com/