Conflicts Depicting Race and Ethnicity in Fiction, 1962 and 2021: Philip Roth, Ralph Ellison, and Pietro di Donato - Newark Public Library

Conflicts Depicting Race and Ethnicity in Fiction, 1962 and 2021: Philip Roth, Ralph Ellison, and Pietro di Donato

Conflicts Depicting Race and Ethnicity in Fiction, 1962 and 2021: Philip Roth, Ralph Ellison, and Pietro di Donato

Tuesday, November 16th | 4:00-8:00 PM
Centennial Hall | 5 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102

Literary History Comes Alive! Revisit a 1962 Symposium Philip Roth Saw as Pivotal to his Writing

An important conference, Conflicts Depicting Race and Ethnicity in Fiction, 1962 and 2021: Philip Roth, Ralph Ellison, and Pietro di Donatowill be held at Newark Public Library on November 16, 4:00–8:00 PM, Centennial Hall Sponsored by the Philip Roth Personal Library and Seton Hall University, the event is inspired by a legendary 1962 symposium at Yeshiva University entitled A Study in Artistic Conscience: Conflict of Loyalties in Minority Writers of Fiction. Ralph Ellison, Philip Roth and Pietro di Donato addressed the topic. William J. Connell, La Motta Chair in Italian Studies, Seton Hall University, will present the first public airing of the tape, recently discovered in Yeshiva University’s Special Collections.

Join us to hear portions of the original event followed by a panel discussion comprising Sterling Bland, Mary Jo Bona, John Callahan, Fred Gardaphé, Elaine Showalter and Steven Zipperstein. We are thrilled to announce that Joyce Carol Oates will be sharing remarks from Elaine Showalter and participating in the panel discussion .Simone A. James Alexander will lead the audience Q&A.

Sponsored by NPL’s Philip Roth Endowment as part of the series Keeping It Real: Conversations about Race, Gender and Class;Seton Hall University Italian Studies Program; Carnegie Corporation of New York; Verizon; and the Community Foundation of New Jersey. Generous donations have been provided by the Seton Hall University Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and the Friends of the Jewish Historical Society.

This event is free and open to the public. This event will also be live streamed on Facebook Live and Zoom. Registration is required even if attending virtually. You will receive a link to the Zoom program separately via email.

Valet Parking will be available beginning at 3 PM.

Please note: In alignment with the City of Newark, guests will be required to show ID and proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within the last 3 days.

Please RSVP Below by Friday, November 12th.

Click here to view the flyer.

PROGRAM:

  • 4:00-5:00 PM: First public airing of excerpts of the 1962 Yeshiva University Symposium presented by Professor William Connell
  • 5:00-6:00 PM: Reception for in-person attendees. Downtime for virtual attendees.
  • 6:00-8:00 PM: Recap of audio excerpts and panel discussion featuring Sterling Bland, Mary Jo Bona, John Callahan, Fred Gardaphé, Elaine Showalter and Steven Zipperstein; We are thrilled to announce that Joyce Carol Oates will be sharing remarks from Elaine Showalter and participating in the panel discussion. Q&A as time permits.