At the Moment of Birth:
A Note from the Managing Editor
continuum |kənˈtinyo͞oəm|
noun ( pl. continua |-yo͞oə| ) [ usu. in sing. ]
a continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, although the extremes are quite distinct: at the fast end of the fast-slow continuum.
• Mathematics the set of real numbers.
ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from Latin, neuter of continuus (see continuous) .
inception |inˈsepSHən|
noun [ in sing. ]
the establishment or starting point of an institution or activity: she has been on the board since its inception two years ago.
ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin inceptio(n-), from incipere ‘begin.’
Volume 1 number 1: at last! Our Continuum began with a long series of conversations and meetings at Black Theatre Network conferences. The need for a twenty-first century refereed scholarly journal focused on African/diaspora theatre and performance was recognized, but it took some time to create a structure: we have begun with the journal you see here, but anticipate, just as inception implies continuity, that we will grow and evolve as we more forward through time. Our goals are aligned with Black Theatre Network’s goals, particularly the first point of its four-point action program: “provide Black theatre artists and scholars with a milieu to exchange ideas.” Once Continuum has firmly established itself as an academic journal, we hope to produce a sibling journal that will focus on the creative side of theatre and performance practice.
Harry Elam, Paul Jackson, Sandra Shannon and Beth Turner have accepted the challenge of serving as midwives for this birth by forming our editorial board, and for this we are truly grateful. Special thanks to Paul for taking on the lead editorship for this issue. Without Hely Perez’s web skills and creativity, we would not have gotten off the ground, and thanks are not enough. We also have dozens of BTN members to thank for their input, as well as Michael Dinwiddie, BTN president, and the BTN Board, whose support and enthusiasm carried us over many a speed bump along the way. From the ranks of BTN, readers stepped forward to assist with the referee process; we thank them for taking on an all-but-thankless task. Appreciation must also be expressed to Georgia Lawyers for the Arts, who assigned us an attorney to assist with some legal questions. Our gratitude also goes out to all who contributed articles and photographs; the work that they represent is testimony to their faith in us, and we are passionately determined not to let them down.
Our hopes and dreams for the future depend on you. We want you to read the journal, to like it, to be excited about it, and to bring us more readers. We need your contributions of articles and photographs. We need your comments and suggestions. We need your interest and support. As we walk side by side on this journey, feel free to contact me through our web site. Now that we are born, we look to you to help us gain maturity and long life!
Freda Scott Giles
Managing Editor
