The Department of African & African American Studies (AFAS) at Washington University in St. Louis invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of assistant or associate Professor with a focus on health, healing, wellness, health interventions, and/or medicine among Black populations in Africa and/or the African Diaspora. Click the link to learn more about this position.
ASWAD is a not-for-profit organization of international scholars seeking to further their understanding of Africa and the African Diaspora. The theme for this years conference is, “I’ve known rivers”: The Ecologies of Black Life and Resistance." The conference will take place at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel on October 29 - November 2, 2025. If you are interested in submitting a session proposal to present your research, please use the attached link to learn more.
JBR is an annual journal that brings together peer‐reviewed critical essays and creative non-fiction on the life, writings, and legacy of James Baldwin.
James Baldwin Review (JBR) is proud to announce the publication of our tenth anniversary volume. This double issue coincides with the centennial celebration of James Baldwin’s birth in 1924. JBR Vol. 10 boasts two feature essays—one a rumination on the “monstrosity” of the Baldwin archive by Robert Reid-Pharr, the other a series of speculative notes on the unlikely convergence of Baldwin and Susan Sontag in a hotel room in Paris, by William Maxwell. This special volume also features two Baldwin speeches and one interview from a single and singular day in 1963, printed here for the first time. A collection of eulogies and remembrances, an overview of Baldwin archival resources, and an interview with the inimitable Cornel West round out the packed, celebratory volume.
Faculty members Jonathan Fenderson and Zachary Manditch-Prottas are uniting students from diverse disciplines in a rigorous study of hip-hop and rap, the predominant music of their generation.
Our faculty pursue interests across the spectrum of African and African American studies. In addition to our expertise in core subjects areas like English, history, sociology, and anthropology, AFAS faculty are actively engaged in interdisciplinary, practice-oriented fields across Washington University, including social work and public health, architecture and design, computer science, business, law, and education.
The department regularly sponsors lectures and events, such as plays, film festivals, exhibits, field trips, and panels and speakers, which focus on contemporary or perennial topics of interest in all areas of the Black experience. In many cases, guest lecturers and artists visit classes and interact directly with our students and others across the campus community. Through our scholarship, teaching, and broader engagement activities we seek to foster a vibrant and impactful social and intellectual community of African and African American Studies.
AFAS Alumni '10, Dr. Heather Skanes, highlighted in the New York Times for her work surrounding Black Maternal Health
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Heather Skanes, MD, (she/her) is a dedicated and compassionate obstetrician and gynecologist, committed to providing patient-centered care to the community of Birmingham, Alabama, through her practice at Oasis Women’s Health. A native of Birmingham, Dr. Skanes is deeply rooted in her community and actively supports causes such as Black Lives Matter, women's birth rights, and the empowerment of women everywhere. Dr. Skanes pursued her undergraduate education at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in African and African American Studies. Her academic background reflects her commitment to understanding and addressing healthcare disparities within the Black community. The New York Times recently featured Dr. Skanes in an article, highlighting her significant contributions to improving Black Maternal Health, further underscoring her dedication to equitable and accessible healthcare for all.
Enjoy a brief recap of our inaugural Summer Institute, where we welcomed educators from the St. Louis metropolitan area. These educators either integrate elements of Black culture, history, and literature into their courses or teach at a school that currently offers or intends to introduce the AP/African American Studies course.
AFAS Faculty Lead the Way with New Ampersand Hip-Hop Class
Faculty members Jonathan Fenderson and Zachary Manditch-Prottas are uniting students from diverse disciplines in a rigorous study of hip-hop and rap, the predominant music of their generation.
ASA's mission is to advance political, social, cultural, and economic awareness about the African continent by engaging individuals in dialogue that will establish a deeper understanding and appreciation of the dynamic cultures within the continent.
The mission of the BAC is to support the professional and personal development of WashU black alumni, to assist in the recruitment and retention of African American students, and to enhance the continued growth and development of the university.
Black Anthology was founded in 1989. It is an annual performance that is written, choreographed, directed, and produced entirely by Washington University students.
My time in AFAS provided me with a family that kept me focused and motivated throughout my time at WashU. There was an abundance of resource sharing and support from both students and faculty. My time in AFAS also encouraged me to ask questions and challenge the erasure of Blackness in other areas of study. AFAS gave me a second home while at WashU, and continues to keep me rooted today.
―Ashley ThompsonClass of 2021, double major in Political Science and AFAS with a minor in Sociology. She is currently a second-year law student at Stanford Law School.
