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Book Talk with Samuel Shearer: Kilgali A New City for the End of the World

Join University Libraries for a faculty book talk featuring AFAS professor, Dr. Samuel Shearer, who will discuss his new book on the transformation of Kigali and the global implications of sustainable urbanism.

RSVP Required -- See Below
Wilson Hall 214

The Black Rep Show: The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body

Stay after the show for a post-performance conversation with playwright Lisa B. Thompson and WashU Law Professor Adrienne Davis as they reflect on The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body, a vibrant and affirming work that celebrates Black women, community, and survival.

Purchase Tickets Below!
A.E Hotchner Studio Theatre, Washington University

Artist Talk: Ballaké Sissoko, kora

in conversation with Patrick Burke and El Hadji Samba Amadou Diallo
Pillsbury Theatre, 560 Music Center

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration: The Annual Celebration

The 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration (Danforth Campus)
Monday, January 19, 2026
Graham Chapel, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.*
Theme: Pressing Our Way: Striving for Change
Graham Chapel | Washington University Danforth Campus

Africa's Past, Present, and Future: Perspective from an African Diplomat

Join the Department of African and African American Studies for an engaging talk with Dr. Koang Tutlam Dung, a distinguished African diplomat and medical doctor, as he shares insights on Africa’s evolving role in global affairs.
Simon 1

The James Baldwin Lecture - Achieving Our Country: Baldwin and U.S. Politics Today

Save the Date!
Emerson Auditorium | Washington University

‘Unimaginable Atrocities’: The Neglected Catastrophe in Sudan and the History of Genocide in the Region

Scott Straus, Professor and Chair, Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, University of California, Berkeley — Holocaust Memorial Lecture
Umrath Lounge

Critical Race Theory at the Bottom of the Well: Derrick Bell’s ‘Grandchildren’ Reflect on the Future of CRT

Join us for a roundtable with Adrienne Davis, Robert Chang, and Anthony Farley as they reflect on Derrick Bell’s legacy and the future of Critical Race Theory.
Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom (A-B Hall, Room 310)

2025 Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora (ASWAD) Conference

Join Us for ASWAD’s 25th Anniversary!
The Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora (ASWAD) invites scholars, artists, activists, and community members from around the globe to join us in St. Louis, Missouri, for our 12th Biennial Conference – a historic 25th anniversary celebration of African and African Diaspora scholarship, culture, and resistance.

This year’s theme, “I’ve Known Rivers: The Ecologies of Black Life and Resistance”, explores the interwoven histories, movements, and lived experiences that shape the African and African Diaspora. Engage in groundbreaking research presentations, artistic showcases, workshops, and cultural experiences as we gather in a city rich with Black history and contemporary activism.
St. Louis, MO | Marriot St. Louis Grand

Anti-Haitianism, Statelessness, and Religious Practice in The Bahamas

Join the African and African American Studies and Anthropology departments for a talk led by Dr. Bertin M. Louis, Professor of Anthropology and African and African American Studies at the University of Kentucky. A light reception will follow the event.
McMillan Hall G052

Religion and Politics: A Conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates

The John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics is pleased to host a special Danforth Distinguished Lecture featuring award-winning author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Ta-Nehisi Coates holds the Sterling Brown Endowed Chair at Howard University in the English department. His bestselling books include The Water Dancer, The Message, and 2015 National Book Award winner, Between the World and Me.

Elizabeth Hinton, Yale Professor of History, African American Studies, and Law, will join Coates on stage for this wide-ranging public conversation. Hinton’s research focuses on the persistence of poverty, racial inequality, and urban violence in the 20th century United States.

Graham Chapel

Religion and Politics: A Book Talk with Elizabeth Hinton and Douglas Flowe - America on Fire

Douglas Flowe (WashU History) discusses the recent book, America on Fire, with the author.

Umrath Lounge

Hélène's Dream - Stage Play

Join us for a staged reading of the play Hélène’s Dream, written and directed by Amira-Géhanne Khalfallah, followed by a panel discussion about the politics of translation today.
Women's Building Formal Lounge

Global Black Studies Graduate Certificate Launch

Join us in celebrating the launch of the Global Black Studies Graduate Certificate, an exciting new interdisciplinary program that highlights critical inquiries into the global dimensions of Black experiences, politics, and cultural expressions.
Washington University Danforth Campus | Seigle Hall, Room 109

Workshop of Afro-Brazilian Samba and Capoeira from Backland Bahia, Brazil

Pillsbury Theatre, 560 Music Center

AFAS Fall 2025 Welcome Back Event

Join AFAS for our Fall 2025 Welcome Back Event on September 9th, 4:30–6:00 PM in McMillan Courtyard! Enjoy food, games, and networking as we kick off the new school year together. Students, faculty, and community partners are all welcome!
McMillan Courtyard

AFAS Senior Seminar Showcase

Join the African & African American Studies senior majors as they present their senior capstone projects to the department, friends, and family.
Come learn about the hard work of our seniors and discover the projects they have developed throughout the year.
Seigle 301

Classical Slave Names and Container Theory: An African American History

Emily Greenwood, James M. Rothenberg Professor of the Classics and of Comparative Literature, Harvard University
Steinberg Auditorium

Nourishing Roots: Addressing Food Apartheid in Black Communities

Systemic racism, economic disinvestment, and environmental injustice have long contributed to food apartheid in Black communities across the United States and the African diaspora. This conversation brings together scholars, organizers, and food justice advocates to explore community-driven solutions, policy interventions, and innovative strategies for building equitable and sustainable food systems that promote both well-being and self-determination.
Register to receive the zoom link

‘Suffering is not seldom the reward for service …’: Anna Julia Cooper and the Black Feminist Prometheus

Emily Greenwood, James M. Rothenberg Professor of the Classics and of Comparative Literature, Harvard University
Umrath Lounge

Black Women's Studies Association - 2nd Annual Virtual Symposium

“No One is Free Until We All are Free:” Activism, Advocacy, and Academic Freedom During Late-Stage Capitalism
April 4-5, 2025
Virtual

19th Annual African Film Festival

Join us for the 19th Annual African Film Festival at Washington University, taking place March 28–30, 2025. This beloved event brings the latest and best in African cinema to the St. Louis region, featuring a curated selection of films that are less than two years old and have been celebrated at international film festivals.
Washington University

"Future in Black Studies," featuring visiting scholar Dr. Lisa B. Thompson

Join us for an intellectually engaging event, "Futures in Black Studies," featuring visiting scholar Dr. Lisa B. Thompson. This event is co-hosted by the Department of African and African American Studies, American Culture Studies, and the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity.

Dr. Thompson will present a compelling talk titled "Art, Scholarship, & Community: Reflecting on the Past, Present, and Future of Black Studies," where she will explore the evolving landscape of Black Studies through the lenses of creativity, research, and collective action.
Seigle 301

Toxic Tropics: Presentation by Jessica Oublié

African & African American Studies Department Faculty Colloquium

The Department of African and African-American Studies (AFAS) invites you to join us for our upcoming Faculty Colloquium, featuring presentations from AFAS faculty members Professor Tomos Evans and Professor Jessica Samuel. This event is an opportunity for the WashU professional community to engage with innovative research and support ongoing scholarly work within our department.
Seigle Hall, 301

"Futures in Black Studies," featuring visiting scholar Dr. Peniel E. Joseph

Join us for an intellectually engaging event, "Futures in Black Studies," featuring visiting scholar Dr. Peniel E. Joseph.

This event is co-hosted by the African and African American Studies Department, the Center for the Humanities, and the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity. Dr. Joseph will present a compelling talk titled:

"The Third Reconstruction: Black Studies and the Search for the Beloved Community in the Twenty-First Century."
Seigle Hall, Room 208

Distinguished Visiting Scholar Lecture: Mariela Noles Cotito

AFAS is honored to bring the Mariela Noles Cotitio to our campus as the Distinguished Visiting Scholar. Join us for this impactful lecture.
Seigle 301

Intricacies and Intimacies: A Conversation on Black Queer/Trans Sexuality with Matt Richardson and Marlon M. Bailey

Join Us for a Community Conversation About Sexual Health!

The Department of African and African American Studies, in collaboration with the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and The Pleasure Circle, invites you to "Intricacies and Intimacies: A Conversation on Black Queer/Trans Sexuality with Matt Richardson."
Umrath Lounge
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