The Importance Of African American Studies

In each year from 1998 through 2000 there was a 1%-point decline in the graduation rate for black men. But for the past 4 years the graduation rate for black men increase by a 1% point and now stand at a 35%. This year the college graduation rate for black women rose by one percentage point to 46%. With many years of hard work African American thrive for a better education ignoring the statistic that states that 9.6% of African American would drop out of high school. African American prove that they can achieve and will achieve.

The aspect of African-American Studies is key to the lives of African-Americans and those involved with the welfare of the race. African-American Studies is the systematic and critical study of the multidimensional aspects of Black thought and practice in their current and historical unfolding (Karenga, 21). African-American Studies exposes students to the experiences of African-American people and others of African descent. It allows the promotion and sharing of the African-American culture. However, the concept of African-American Studies, like many other studies that focus on a specific group, gender, and/or creed, poses problems. Therefore, African-American Studies must overcome the obstacles in order to

Incorporating topics of the violence and racial tension we see everyday can be difficult when it comes to certain class subjects. If a teacher is having trouble, Pitts takes the time to recommend various units teachers can use to inform students of what actually happened during times of trouble. This includes teaching about a revolutionary book in literature, what propelled the civil rights movement in history, and the black scientists who have contributed greatly to advance medical fields. Although the “black bodies have too often been used” and manipulated, she does not forget to acknowledge the fact that not all white people are bad and not all African Americans are saints. She asks educators to “be on guard against false narratives” and to teach about the white people who had

Over the course of the years that Black Studies has been a separate functioning entity, there have been different ideological and political reasons for why Black studies is needed in institutions of higher education. Scholars such as Nathan Hare, John Henrik Clark, John W. Blassingame and Devere E. Pentony have given their own varied rationales as to why they believe Black Studies is a necessity within these institutions; if it is even one at all. Each of these men have different opinions on this topic but they do share one similar perspective. The historical importance of black people should be taught and made a fundamental component of Black Studies because in institutions of higher education, where the populations are predominantly white, staying connected to the black culture can be difficult. Getting educated about it enables students to stay connected to their roots and use it to improve their future. Many black people grow up unaware of who they are and where they come from because in the current education system black people have been pushed to the side or spoken about very briefly. Students do not understand the struggles of African American people, so therefore having courses that educate them about the history of blacks, will spark understanding of black people as a whole and there might be a change in black and even possibly white communities.

The letters and movement leaders demand to be visible and recognized and unequivocally seek larger numbers in Black student enrollment, increased Black faculty, curriculum and pedagogy that includes truth about race, class and sexuality (in history, law, political and economic realms). And the formation of Offices of Diversity and Inclusion on campuses throughout to further define these issues and discipline the institutions that purport to be inclusive, but whose history shows they are not.

In the early 1900s, schools along with education were taking a huge leap from not being able to educate blacks, to having blacks actually create their own schools. Moreover, higher education in the schools were becoming necessary for good paying jobs in this country, you couldn’t just be a farmer for your whole life. African Americans were taking huge risks to educate their own people, they were building schools and finding ways of improving themselves in their own country. Making names for themselves is a huge part in their movement.

It is easy for people to forget about people who helped them after a period, Years after the defeat of the British at Yorktown, The Americans forgot the Important role the black played during the war for independence. In Philadelphia in 1876 after 100 years of Independence. The African American contribution was not acknowledged, in 1783, thousands of Black American was involved in the war; some won their freedom, some were active participant while some were victims. The black gave their loyalty to the sides they felt will provide them freedom. In 1775 the black settled in 13 colonies, close to million African American were enslaved in the 18th century John Woolman & George Keith question why they still have slaves there was no response in

With bringing in African American experiences, we will be able to have a more diverse sense of ethics and morals. With their background and different

“Civil rights” as a term feels outdated and outmoded and officially ended with the voting rights act of 1965 and the civil acts right of 1968, which overcame legal barriers to equality. Since then, movements like the black lives matter focuses on the unwritten inequality, like the pervasive micro insults that millions of african americans face each day. It's not surprising that race still divides our nation, especially considering that slavery was only ended 150 years ago. The new direction is to address additional cultures and lifestyles into the conversation, and the people who will change the future are alive right now. College campuses are where progressive ideas are forming all around the world. With the time, resources and motivation

Black Education should matter to everyone. Black lives are looked over so much. Most people could care less about us being educated. Even though most people look at having an education as pointless, it’s not. No one can take what you learned away from you. Once you got it in your brain it’s there forever. Being educated should be on the top of every black person lists. In predominantly black schools and neighborhoods, most blacks don’t take education seriously. Some see it as “acting white” or “being better than other blacks”. In reality having an education not only helps you gain knowledge it also makes you independent, and appreciative of what the world has to offer to you. A lot of things people want like the fancy office jobs you can’t

The early existence of slavery leading to Racism wrote a large part of the American history living a legacy most people will never forget and relive. Unfortunately, the scares left on our ancestors who suffered from slavery have moved on to the next generation, even though some people still might deny the reality of racism. Circumstances happening in our world today; where people of certain colors are being mistreated and undermined automatically as criminals without evidential fact has somehow played a role in discouraging the youth of their capabilities and the potential they have in this world. Even through the adversities, limited job and educational opportunities, and when it looked like there was no hope, some courageous African American men and

People work to support themselves and their families, that ideal has always been present no matter the century. However, in the mid-19th century, work was not defined by simple part-time to full-time shifts. At the time, work was something that African-Americans strived to have, willing to jump over several metaphorical barriers to achieve it. Different plans to work for African-Americans are described in the works from Booker T. Washington Up from Slavery and Dubois The Souls of Black Folk are directly opposing ideas, one placing importance in hard work and determination while the other stresses on proper education for black

African American literature transformed society for those who suffered from racial inequality. In the 1800’s, writers focused on enforcing antislavery for black Americans through poetry, short stories, and ballads. James M. Whitfield was one of those highly recognized individuals. Frederick Douglass, William Wells Brown, and his community honored him due to his accomplishments as a poet (Gates and Smith 422). Many believed that Whitfield would become the next Edgar Allan Poe or John Greenleaf Whittier, the leading white antislavery poet during that time, because his works were so successful (Gates and Smith 423). James M. Whitfield’s poem “America” expressed antislavery through the utilization of different genres, styles, and themes.

Which is why it’s crucial that our voices are constantly heard regardless of how many times we continue to be shut down. I think it’s a little hard to express yourself as an African American student if some teachers are not willing to give you space to do. That space means different for every student because what might work for one student, won't work for another. I thought the speech by Strauss (2015) was very powerful and initiated a conversation that most teachers aren’t willing to talk about. From a personal experience, teachers are sometimes reluctant to talk about issues that minorities go through such as racial disparities. Smith stated how although most of the educators are white, there are still a good number of minorities in a classroom that their history should be incorporated into the teacher’s curriculum. Even in high school, black history was not something that was heavily emphasized on expecting in black history month. But even during black history month, the statements never seemed to be direct and detailed. It was always the basics which I am not blaming teachers in any way but I do think that teachers can make a big difference in these

Africana Studies should not be limited to studying the oppression blacks and the struggle they’ve experienced though that is an important component and the only component usually seen by others. Black studies can be about blacks learning the necessary skills to be constructive members of society, such as financing, business, computer studies, labor laws and the judiciary systems. There are all field that can help the programs once students have mastered them. Having students doing financing can help with simple everyday life budgeting and planning ahead. Studying business as part of the program can introduce students to the possibilities of creating their own business which will result in more black owned businesses. Judiciary practices