The Global Blackness initiative aims to chart a possible future for a network of students, faculty, and staff that relationally engage the topic of Global Blackness.

Building on the momentum of Cornell’s 2023 Global Blackness Town Hall, this year, the Global Blackness initiative is organizing events guided by the question of how we create a community that embraces contradictions as well as solidarity to meet the initial interests and some of the demands that sprang from that town hall meeting.

Film Screening
10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Tuesday, September 17; Africana Studies & Research Center, Room 120
Two short films will be screened. Each short will be followed by a discussion. 

Attend a screening of award-winning actor Sheldon Shepherd's most celebrated cinematic work.

Sheldon Shepherd is best known for his role in Storm Saulter's Better Mus' Come, for which he won Best Actor at the American Black Film Festival in 2012. More recently, he also starred in Idris Elba's directorial debut, Yardie, and the 2024 Bob Marley biopic Bob Marley: One Love directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. With upwards of 20 years of experience in the creative and cultural arts field, he has been a celebrated performer from a young age.

Invocation and Dramatic Performance
10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; Wednesday, September 18; Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Black Box Theatre

Chief Gaama Gloria, "MaMa G", will lead the Cornell community in an invocation for the Global Blackness initiative followed by a dramatic performance with Sheldon Shephard. MaMa G holds a preeminent role as an African diaspora spiritual worker, community builder, and advocate for restoration of family and establishment of indigenous ways of learning in higher education.  

Gathering: Global Blackness at Cornell: Main Event with Chief Gaama Gloria and Mr. Sheldon Shepherd
5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.; Wednesday, September 18; Africana Studies and Research Center, Room 120
followed by After Party! And Dinner Reception

Hosted by the Einaudi Center; music by DJ Ishion Hutchison

About the Speakers

Sheldon R. Shepherd, is an award-winning actor, author, and artiste, with upwards of 20 years of experience in the cultural arts field. He is a founding member of The No-Maddz, a Jamaican art collective and roots reggae dub poetry band. In 2005, he became Jamaica's Ambassador to China and in 2006 won the coveted Prime Minister Youth Award for Excellence in Arts and Culture. In 2012, Shepherd won the Best Actor Award at the American Black Film Festival for his role in "Better Mus' Come" directed by Storm Saulter. Sheldon also starred in Nabil Elderkin’s short film "Capture Land," which was part of The Power of the Word Series in collaboration with Montblanc, the Tribeca Film Institute, and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Gaama Gloria Simms /Tekina Nuna is an African diaspora spiritual worker and community builder rooted firmly in Maroon and Rastafari traditions. Gloria is working toward the establishment of a Women’s Museum as well as a Traditional University that aligns with indigenous ways of learning via the ethos, “What life experience has taught onto me, I will teach those who want to learn.”

She received the title of Gaama (Paramount Queen) from the Okanisi Maroons of Suriname, the title of Tekina (teacher) and Council member of Yukayeke Yamaye Guani (Jamaican Hummingbird Taino People) and is the founder of the Maroon Indigenous Womens Circle. As Gaama, Gloria continues to pursue her ultimate vision. She sees the restoration of the family as a must.