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Students in the Association of Black Collegians and other supporters protest at Brookings Hall in 1968. (Photo courtesy of WUSTL Archives)

History

50+ Years of Black Activism & Study

In 1969, Washington University began offering courses under the rubric of Black Studies. It was a momentous occurrence. A Black Studies Program was meant to reassure students about the core mission of their education: to change the world’s values to bring about the liberation of African-descended peoples from the thralldom of Eurocentric hegemony. Fifty years later, that tradition lives on in today's Department of African and African-American Studies (AFAS).

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About Our Department

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. 

upcoming
events

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African Film Festival: 2023 Youth Matinee

African Film Festival: 2023 Youth Matinee

Bronw 100
African Film Festival: Tug Of War (Vuta N’Kuvute)

African Film Festival: Tug Of War (Vuta N’Kuvute)

Brown 100
African Film Festival: Xalé

African Film Festival: Xalé

Brown 100
Small-town mayor pushes for big changes inspired by WashU education

Small-town mayor pushes for big changes inspired by WashU education

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Six faculty members to join Arts & Sciences under Race and Ethnicity Cluster Hire Initiative

Six faculty members to join Arts & Sciences under Race and Ethnicity Cluster Hire Initiative

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AP Course in African American Studies

Shanti Parikh on the College Board's Advanced Placement Course on African American Studies

Shanti Parikh, a professor & the Chair of the Department of African & African American Studies, discusses the new advanced placement course in African American Studies and the teachings of Black history in the classroom.

History of Black Studies

Gerald Early talks about how black studies programs came to college campuses across America. In spring 2017, Early oversaw a milestone for African and African-American Studies, when the former program in Arts & Sciences became a full department.

Why St. Louis County removed a memorial to 'white colonists'

Why St. Louis County removed a memorial to 'white colonists'

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campus organizations

  • African Students Association

    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.

  • Association of Black Students

    The Association of Black Students is an organization with a rich, powerful history of fellowship, service, and advocacy at Washington University..

  • Black Alumni Council

    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

    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.