I've been on this list for a week and have received no mail. As an
Africanist there are few things I like talking about more than African
History, so am hoping for increased output from the members.
I have a few humble comments re the aim of this listserv.
As far as I can make out, it aims to be very formal in approach, with an
editorial board, highly moderated discussion, with the moderators trying
to create discussion of "professional and scholarly character".
Furthermore, the seriousness of the above mission is extenuated by the fact
that federal monies are being used to back the effort.
My concern is that African history is already heavily dominated by
committees, who dole out jobs and grants. Those of us at the bottom of the
ladder face refereed journals and books, job search committees, dissertation
committees, and grant awarding committees, etc, endlessly.
>From what I have seen, we in African history need less bureaucracy, stuffed
shirts, and conformism. This network could serve as a freewheeling vehicle
to open us up.
After all, what do we talk about amongst ourselves in private? I doubt
that very many Africanists discuss issues of "professional and scholarly
character" in private. Rather, the conversation often ends up being
far more iconoclastic and interesting than any discussion of
"theoretical" or "scholarly" issues.
Actually, such informal chatting is far more educational than any
seminar or conference.
Let's lighten things up here
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Editor's Note:
We welcome discussion of the role that
H-AFRICA might play for its subscribers
in the profession. Along with members of
the editorial board, we will be refining
list policies during the next few months
and encourage suggestions.
mep
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