This concentration considers the great range of experiences of African Americans historically and in the present. Students who choose this concentration consider the many ways African Americans have negotiated the issue of race within a predominantly white society, using strategies that range from assimilation to separatism. In this concentration, students are encouraged to think critically about the concept of race and the crucial role of language and culture in defining racial difference at distinct historical moments. Students analyze history, theory, and cultural representations made by African Americans in order to increase their understanding of black achievement and oppression.
Students in the African American & African studies concentration may enter into fields and positions such as counseling, social research, personnel, and education.
In this course, you'll investigate the myriad ways in which race and racism intersect with gender, class, sexuality, and nationality.
Seeing Students as “Kindred Spirits”.
Francisca Oyogoa
Professor of Sociology and African American Studies