College Language Association

Whether you're celebrating with your own party, a kickback with family or friends, or by watching the Brazil v. Haiti World Cup match, here's to freedom.

Here's to CLA. Here's to Freedom. Here's to Juneteenth.

So many things to celebrate in June!
In addition to Pride and Caribbean Heritage Month, June is Black Music Appreciation Month, and this week, we are spotlighting 4 CLA Scholars who appreciate Black music in their work. Whether it’s literary studies or writing studies, cultural studies or theory, we’re proud to have dynamic scholars such as these as part of our organization.

Check them out!

Top left: “‘It's Him and I, Aquemini’: Reimagining OutKast in Kiese Laymon's Long Division” (2025) by Kenneth L. Johnson II

Top right: Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of the Hip-Hop South (2021) by Regina N. Bradley

Bottom left: Groove Theory: The Blues Foundation of Funk (2020) by Tony Bolden

Bottom right: Visions and Cyphers: Explorations of Literacy, Discourse, and Black Writing Experiences (2016) edited by David F. Green Jr.

Happy Black Music Appreciation Month!

June is Caribbean Heritage Month! Last week, we shared some readings for Month, and this week, we're doing the same for National Caribbean Heritage Month.

Which book are you planning to read for the first time, re-read, or add to your ever growing TBR?

Hello, June!

Here are some reads to kick off your summer reading and Month!

Whether you're celebrating, mourning, or navigating a complicated relationship with your mother, we hope you take every opportunity to heed Mama Hurston's exhortation. May you remind yourself to "jump at de sun."

It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and we appreciate our who challenge us to think about our pedagogy!

From the CLA Journal archives, check out Adam J. Banks' "Dominant Genre Emeritus: Why It’s Time to Retire the Essay."

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, CLA Scholars!

In 2026, Teacher Appreciation Week is Monday, May 4, through Friday, May 8, 2026.

According to the historical notes provided in the College Language Association archives housed at the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library,

"In 1937, a LeMoyne College professor named Hugh M. Gloster, through correspondence with Gladstone Lewis Chandler, a colleague at Morehouse College, discussed the need for stronger critical thinking and English language education for students at their respective colleges. Gloster therefore engaged other English teachers at predominately private 'Negro' colleges and universities to form an association which would address the problem from its origins to its current state. In 1937, eight men and women met at LeMoyne and formed the Association of Teachers of English in Negro Colleges (ATENC)."

This history reminds us why we celebrate CLA Scholars today. Though the name has evolved from ATENC to the College Language Association, the founding mission—to strengthen critical thinking, language, and literary scholarship—remains alive in your teaching, service, and scholarship.

During this week, we recognize and honor your commitment, your scholarship, your teaching and, above all, the impact you make in shaping minds and advancing languages, literatures, and pedagogies.

Thank you for continuing this legacy.

Did you miss out on getting your merch at the Convention two weeks ago? Or did you see last week's images on Instagram or Facebook and wonder where you can get your CLA jersey or crewneck sweatshirt?

No need to worry about missing out!

You've got until May 3, 2026, to order them, so get 'em while they're hot!

Order here: https://linktr.ee/CLA1937

Not only is it our Founder's Week, but it is also National Library Week!

What better way to wrap up our Founder's Week than with a shout out to the library that houses our archives?

The CLA Archives are housed in Atlanta, GA in the Atlanta University Center's Robert W. Woodruff Library.

We can never celebrate YOU enough. Because of you, we are.

Celebrating 89 years of scholarship and fellowship because YOU make it possible.

We are