Kalfou: A Journal of Comparative and Relational Ethnic Studies

One month left to send your work to our special issue on Ethnic Studies + Student Activism! See full CFP at tupjournals.temple.edu/index.php/ka...

Article Workshop: Ethnic Studies & Student Activism Now. Saturday, October 11, 2025. Hybrid (University of California, Santa Barbara, & virtual option. Get feedback from the editorial board on your work-in-progress for our special issue, and conversation & connection with other activists, students, educators, and artists. $200 scholarships available. To apply: Send abstracts to submissions@kalfou.ucsb.edu by Sept 10. Scan QR code for more information.

Less than a week left to apply to the workshop for our special issue on ethnic studies + student activism! We're loving the submissions that have come in already... can't wait to see yours 😍😍

Grey square with the following quote: "I used to wonder how my ancestors survived the Atlantic, Katrina has answered that question, I wonder no more—there is a faith that is beyond faith, a belief when there is nothing left to believe in, . . . the realization that in order to live you had to survive and in order to survive you had to do whatever needed to be done, few of us really, really know what we will do when we’ve got nothing but have to find somethingto keep us going. . . . twelve days later and you still don’t know where all your family is, if you’ve got faith, you’re about to use it all—is this some of what our ancestors saw?" Attributed to Kalamu ya Salaam, “Hard Times in Big Easy,” Kalfou vol. 3 no. 1

In his poetic essay "Hard Times in Big Easy," ya Salaam confronts us with his community's devastation, rage, and fierce determination to remain and rebuild.

grey square containing the following quote: "the water. my god the water. the angry water rain roaring sideways with the force of a freight train smashing your resolve to ride it out, or inching down an interstate at two miles an hour so-called evacuating from the water. the dirty, angry water, running if you were lucky enough to have wheels and a wallet with plastic in it. the water. you will dream of wet mountains falling on you and wake up gasping for air as though you were drowning, oh the water deeper than any pool you’ve ever swum in, water more terrible than anything you can think of, another middle passage, except this time they don’t even provide ships" Attributed to Kalamu ya Salaam, "Hard Times in Big Easy," Kalfou vol. 3 no. 1

As we remember Hurricane Katrina, 20 years ago today, we recall the words of New Orleans teacher-activist Kalamu ya Salaam, grieving the lost and honoring the survivors--while calling out the structural and historical racism that centered the destruction on Black communities. (1/2)

New episode is up! Check out Ep. 3 of Kalfou: Community Centered for an inspiring example of "people power" in action.

Got a project in mind for our special issue on ethnic studies+student activism? Apply to our workshop, Oct 11, to get feedback on your ideas and connect with others on the dreams and struggles embedded in this work. Space is limited; apply soon!

New CFP just launched! We invite your reflections on the relationships between ethnic studies and student activism at this charged historical juncture.

As the academic year concludes, Kalfou would like to remind readers that we are always accepting submission of all forms. We also hope you check out Ken Ehrlich’s emphasis on the relationship between art and abolition!
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#artactivism #kalfou

Episode 3 is coming soon! Stay tuned for a powerful historical tracing of Chicanx studies.
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#kalfou #staytuned #podcast

Volume 11 Issue 2 is now out! 📔

Follow the link to be directed to Kalfou’s website: tupjournals.temple.edu/index.php/ka...
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#kalfou #readnow

Episode 2 is now available to listen on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Libsyn, iHeart, and the Kalfou website! Stream it now! 🗣️ 🎙️
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#kalfou #podcast #streamnow

In remembrance of Clyde Woods, Kalfou wants to highlight Volume 11, Issue 2, and its focus on the continuous presence of the blues and its roots in today’s popular culture radical movements.
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#Kalfou

If you’re interested in learning more, take a look at Volume 1, Issue 2 on our journal’s website to read Lynn Mae Itagaki’s full article! 📖

Website link: tupjournals.temple.edu/index.php/ka...

Be sure to read the article “Grounding at the Crossroads” and watch out for Episode 2 of the podcast “Kalfou: Community Centered”,  which will be released soon! 
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#kalfou #podcast

Kalfou’s new podcast “Kalfou: Community Centered” is now available to stream! Make sure to listen to Episode 1 “Safety, Repression, and Coalition”.