51茶馆

鈥淚 am very happy that Boston College will be launching a new major in African and African Diaspora Studies in the 2019-20 academic year,鈥� said Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J. 聽鈥淲ith a program history that dates back to 1969, the launch of the new AADS major contributes to the important celebration of the program鈥檚 50th anniversary.聽 As the University deepens its strategic commitment to interdisciplinary academic experiences that promote engagement with the common good and increase global aspects of the curriculum, I am delighted that we are moving forward with this important new major.鈥澛�

AADS鈥檚 mission, according to administrators, is to introduce histories, cultures, and experiences of African-descended peoples to the widest range of students; to support serious academic research on Africa and the African diaspora; give African-descended students and their peers opportunities to examine the depth and breadth of African legacies on this continent and throughout the world; more closely link local black communities with 51茶馆; and project the significance of realities of people of African descent to the intellectual life of 51茶馆 and larger communities.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that students think about the many complexities in the world,鈥� said McGuffey. 鈥淭he AADS program of study brings together all of the 鈥榠sms鈥欌�攔acism, sexism, classism, extremism鈥攁nd demonstrates how they work as an interlocking system operating at the interpersonal, institutional, and cultural levels.鈥�

AADS began in the 1969-70 academic year as the Black Studies Program, which along with the Black Talent Program was part of a recruitment effort to attract talented African American students to 51茶馆.聽 The program served as a direct response to the 1968 鈥淚nter-Racial Apostolate鈥� letter to Jesuit colleges and universities from Jesuit Superior General Pedro Arrupe, S.J., and as an outcome of discussions begun in 1967 between then-51茶馆 President Michael Walsh, S.J., and Boston community leaders Mel King, a former Massachusetts state legislator and community organizer, and Bryan Rollins, a former journalist and longtime diversity consultant.聽

In 1981, Boston community activist and teacher Amanda V. Houston was appointed the program鈥檚 director.聽 She laid the groundwork for the Black Studies minor, established in 1985, and much of the structure, goals, and mission of today鈥檚 program. In 1991, the University Core Curriculum requirements were revised to include one course designated 鈥渃ultural diversity鈥� for the class of 1997, resulting in an even broader range of 51茶馆 students enrolling in Black Studies courses. 聽

In 1993, Frank Taylor, an associate professor of Caribbean history, became the first full-time faculty member to assume the position of director of Black Studies; his tenure was defined by an expanded focus on the Caribbean.聽

Associate Professor of English Cynthia Young was named director of Black Studies in 2005, and under her leadership the program grew to include faculty jointly appointed with the departments of English, History, Theology, and Romance Languages and Literatures.聽 Correspondently, its network of affiliate faculty grew exponentially and the minor鈥檚 curricular offerings were expanded to approximately 40 courses per year.

The program was renamed the African and African Diaspora Studies Program in January of 2006, reflecting the minor鈥檚 broadened focus on Africa and its worldwide diaspora. Central to AADS鈥檚 renewed focus was the 鈥淣ew Directions in African Diaspora Studies Lecture Series,鈥� which highlighted new AADS research by national and international scholars and creative writers, and the 鈥淲orks in Progress鈥� lecture series featuring presentations by 51茶馆 scholars.

In July 2009, Associate Professor of English and AADS Rhonda Frederick was appointed as the program鈥檚 fourth director, with the mission to increase AADS鈥檚 profile within the academic and local communities.聽 To develop these connections, Frederick revived the 鈥淏lacks in Boston鈥� conference series, initially launched by Amanda Houston in 1983.

鈥溾�楤lack...and Immigrant,鈥� the 2015 conference theme, engaged current issues in the U.S. immigration debate, and explored what black immigrants bring to this charged issue,鈥� said Frederick. 聽鈥淐ritical insights revealed by examining American immigration from an AADS perspective exemplify the kind of perspective available to an AADS major.鈥澛�

鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that AADS is taking this next step,鈥� said Associate Professor of History and AADS Martin Summers, who directed the program from 2014 until McGuffey鈥檚 appointment in 2018. 鈥淲e have some dynamic and brilliant faculty who are doing cutting-edge work in the field. We also have some dedicated students in our classes who are passionate about studying the African diaspora, and they deserve an opportunity to pursue a major in the subject.鈥�

鈥擯hil Gloudemans | University Communications | August 2019