The \;Journal for the New Narratives in the History of Philosophy (JNNHP) \;invites submissions for its special on Derrick Bell and the History of Africana Philosophy\, to be published in Fall 2027. Derrick Bell\, the founder of Critical Race Theory\, produced one of the most innovative\, insightful\, and transformative ideas in the 20th \;century. His philosophical insights continue to challenge how western liberal nations contend with questions of civil rights\, human rights\, immigration\, policing\, and education. Recent conservative attacks focused on Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the U.S\, Canada\, and England assert\, albeit erroneously\, that CRT is a Marxist and communist ideology that seeks to supplant western values and the ethos of liberal democracy.
\nContrary to these fallacious attacks\, Bell&rsquo\;s textbook \;Race\, Racism\, and American Law \;is amongst the first law textbooks to give a comprehensive view of how racism shaped the development of American law and race relations. In this regard\, CRT draws heavily on a tradition of Africana philosophy from slavery through the 20th \;century. It challenges\, not only the supposed neutrality of U.S. law\, but also the universality of western political ideals\, and U.S. law as egalitarian. For example\, Bell engaged Frederick Douglass&rsquo\;s critiques of natural law theorists and abolitionists who read the American Constitution as a slave document. For Douglass\, the Constitution is an economic contract that robs slaves of their labour and property rights. Drawing on Douglass&rsquo\; critique\, Bell interrogated how economic interests have structured American law as an instrument for white class interests over Black claims for justice from slavery through the 20th century.
\nSimilarly\, Bell engaged W.E.B DuBois&rsquo\;s reading of American democracy that underscored how U.S. law in the 13 colonies suppressed African revolts while upholding slavery. Such legal resistance to African acts of liberation\, Dubois argued\, created paradoxes for American democracy and shaped how the legal system understood the Black freedom struggle. Following Dubois' analysis\, Bell explored how the law is an ineffective tool for racial remediation when it comes to addressing social injustices that confront Black life.
\nBell also engaged Malcolm X&rsquo\;s critiques of the Reconstruction era civil rights and 1960 civil rights amendments as pyrrhic victories. This inspired Bell to think about how civil rights function as symbolic victories while ensuring racism is a permanent fixture of American democracy.
\nGiven Bell&rsquo\;s extensive engagement with 18th-20th century Africana philosophy\, this special seeks to consider Bell&rsquo\;s work within Africana philosophy. As such\, the special welcomes essays that focus on Bell&rsquo\;s work as philosophical historiography and inquiry into Black life and its relation to democracy as part of the long tradition of Africana philosophy. The special seeks contributions that address the following themes:
\nDerrick Bell as a philosopher of Black history. \;
\nDerrick Bell as a philosopher of Black legal theory.
\nDerrick Bell and the Black Nationalist and the Black Radical Tradition.
\nDerrick Bell as a philosopher of Black Education.
\nDerrick Bell as a philosopher of contemporary society and issue of civil rights.
\nEssays must be submitted to \;https://journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/nnhp/about/submissions
\nDeadline for Essay Submission: January 7th\, 2027. Papers will be considered after January 7th\, 2027.
\n\;The Co-lead Guest Editors for this Special are Drs. Dalitso Ruwe (Queens University)\, Adebayo Oluwayomi (West Chester University)\, Andrew Soto (Hartnell College).
\nFor questions about the Special\, please contact: \;derrickbellspecial@gmail.com
\nJNNHP \;is an open-access online journal committed to publishing papers on underrepresented figures or themes in the history of philosophy\, both Western and non-Western traditions\, from the ancient period to the mid-20th \;century. \;JNNHP \;accepts papers in English and French. Papers should be no more than 10000 words. \;JNNHP \;also seeks to highlight relevant translations\, archival work or new editions of primary texts in progress. We will publish selections from such works\, with critical notes and contextual introductions.
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