Why study african american history: Historically, black Africans were first imported to North America as slaves in the mid-1500s, and the African diaspora in North America is a rich, complex, and multidisciplinary subject with roots dating back to that time period. While African Americans have come a long way and achieved much since then, there is still more work to be done in the pursuit of social justice.
The African American experience is investigated from an African American-centered perspective by African American Studies majors in order to have a more complete understanding of the past and present predicament of persons of African descent in the United States.
What Is African American Studies, And How Does It Differ From Other Disciplines?
Why study african american history: According to associate professor of English and American Ethnic Studies Omari Weekes, “African American Studies studies the experience of persons of African heritage in the United States and the Black diaspora, both historically and in the current day.”
“African American Studies is not constrained by, but is indebted to, critical techniques from disciplines such as English, history, sociology, law, and political science. It is centred on black people.” According to Weekes’s explanation, “it looks at social, legal, and economic systems, but it also looks at our fundamental understandings of ideas such as space, location, the human, belonging, and community.”
African American Studies has become increasingly popular in higher education as the institution strives to be more inclusive of all students. “The ultimate goal and purpose is to bring this concept of diversity and inclusion to fruition. […] We would like to make certain that the most important experiences of a people in the United States, experiences that were pivotal or fundamental to the development and growth of the United States, would be included in academic, scholarly curriculum of the University, would we? This is the ultimate goal, isn’t it?” Kwesi Brookins, associate professor of psychology and Africana studies at the University of Tennessee, tells Technician.
Here Are Five Compelling Reasons To Pursue A Degree In African American Studies
When it comes to choosing a major, today’s students have a plethora of alternatives. Think over the following five factors to determine whether or not pursuing a degree in African American Studies is a good fit for your situation.
Why Study African American History: It Is Interdisciplinary In Nature
Black and African American Studies is a unique multidisciplinary field that encompasses the fields of history, sociology, culture; politics and government; religion; policy; law; language; international affairs; literature; education; entertainment; and many more fields. It doesn’t matter if you have a particular interest in one area of the African American experience or are searching for a more general perspective; African American Studies covers a wide range of topics.
It Can Lead To A Variety Of Various Professions
Degrees in African American Studies do not educate people for specific trades or occupations. However, this does not rule out a major in African American Studies as a means of laying the groundwork for a successful job — or for a variety of successful careers. The comprehensive character of African American Studies provides students with not only knowledge but also critical thinking, communication, writing, research, and analysis abilities that will serve them well in their future endeavours. These same abilities serve as the foundation for a well-rounded liberal arts training. A result of this training, African American Studies majors possess a broad and deep range of transferrable professional qualities. Several organisations, including the National Council for Black Studies, state that “the answer to people who wonder what a person can accomplish with a Black studies major is simple[:] anything!”
The Fact That It Exists Is Astounding And A Monument To The Resilience Of The Human Spirit
Although African Americans have endured a plethora of horrors and sufferings for hundreds of years, they have managed to build and retain a strong cultural identity that has informed & enriched American society. The contributions of African-Americans to every element of American life from the arts and entertainment to businesses and science have been extraordinary. As a student majoring in African American Studies, you will not only be informed, but you will also be motivated.
You’ll Gain A Fresh Perspective On Problems That Are Extremely Important To You
Why study african american history: “I’ve enlarged my outlook,” one student said after completing just one African American Studies course, according to The Atlantic. I make a conscious effort to include a broader range of people & media organizations in my regular consumption of information. While I’m not working, I’ve begun studying history and reading novels in my leisure time. A broader range of friends and acquaintances has also emerged for me. I wish someone had pushed me to do this sooner, or that I had realised my own blind spots were more obvious. “However, it’s better late than none at all, and my life is unquestionably better now than it was before I made these changes.”
Indeed, studies of African Americans are tremendously relevant now. The long-term issues of race relations and inequality persist in countries all over the world. As a result, many universities are changing their curricula to be more student-centered, with the goal of helping students not only understand this issue, but also to develop “habits of awareness” in their everyday lives.
Why Study African American History: You Have The Ability To Make A Difference, No Matter Where You Go
As a result of the Black Lives Matter movement, concerns of racial equity and justice have been brought to light. African American Studies not only helps students put contemporary events in context, but it also prepares them to become champions for the Black community when they have graduated. “We should take advantage of this opportunity. “I believe that the activism of our students will not allow us to rest,” says Ananya Mukherjee-Reed, provost of the University of British Columbia, Ockanagan.
There is no limit to the extent to which you can make a difference in the Americas. In looking at the struggles of black men and women all over the world, “I realise that we all face the same struggles, whether we are in Africa, China, Europe, the Caribbean or South America,” says Maurice Nelson, assistant director of the university’s Office of Multicultural Affairs. “We all go through the same difficulties in the fight to be seen as humans,” Nelson says.
There are no biological or racial differences between black and white people, and the links that bind us are stronger than those that divide us. “The common road of hope that we have all travelled has united us in a stronger sense of connection than any words, laws, or legal claims,” Wright continues. Students who major in African American Studies not only walk this “shared path of hope,” but they also contribute to making it more navigable for everyone else as well.