Department of African and African American Studies

Department of African and African American Studies
Name	Department of African and African American Studies
Established	1969
Parent	Harvard University
Head label	Chair
Head	Tommie Shelby
City	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Country	United States

Department of African and African American Studies. It is an academic department within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the histories, cultures, and experiences of people of African descent across the African diaspora. Founded in the wake of significant student activism, the department has grown into a preeminent center for scholarship, producing influential research and educating generations of scholars. Its faculty and alumni have made substantial contributions to academia, public policy, and cultural discourse, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the field.

History

The establishment of the department in 1969 was a direct result of advocacy by the Black Students Association at Harvard University and broader national movements for civil rights and educational inclusion. Key early supporters included philosopher and professor John Hope Franklin and university administrator Henry Rosovsky. The program initially offered an undergraduate concentration, with its first chair being Ewart Guinier. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it expanded its curriculum and faculty, attracting prominent scholars like Nathan Huggins and Martin Kilson. A major milestone was achieved in 2002 when, after decades as a committee-led program, it was formally inaugurated as a full, degree-granting department under the leadership of Henry Louis Gates Jr., marking a significant institutional commitment.

Academic programs

The department offers a robust undergraduate concentration (major) and a secondary field, alongside a doctoral program through the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Coursework spans disciplines including history, literature, sociology, political theory, and religion, with a focus on topics such as transatlantic slavery, Harlem Renaissance, Black Power movement, and contemporary Afro-Latin American cultures. Students engage with foundational texts from thinkers like W.E.B. Du Bois, Frantz Fanon, and Toni Morrison. The curriculum is designed to provide a deep understanding of the African diaspora, from the Kingdom of Benin to modern Brazil and the United States.

Research and scholarship

Faculty and graduate students produce pioneering research across numerous fields. This includes historical work on Reconstruction and Jim Crow laws, sociological studies of urban inequality, literary analysis of African literature, and philosophical inquiries into race and justice. The department is closely associated with major projects like the Du Bois Institute (now part of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research) and the monumental African American National Biography project. Scholarship often intersects with public debates on reparations, mass incarceration, and global Pan-Africanism.

Notable faculty

The department has been home to many distinguished scholars. Current and former faculty include philosopher and chair Tommie Shelby, literary scholar and filmmaker Henry Louis Gates Jr., sociologist William Julius Wilson, historian Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, and political scientist Jennifer L. Hochschild. Past luminaries have included historian Nell Irvin Painter, cultural critic Cornel West, and anthropologist J. Lorand Matory. Their collective work has received honors such as the Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur Fellowship, and National Humanities Medal.

Related centers and institutes

The department maintains synergistic relationships with several research entities at Harvard University. The foremost is the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, directed by Henry Louis Gates Jr., which sponsors lectures, fellowships, and publications. Other key affiliates include the Harvard University Center for African Studies, which focuses on the African continent, and the Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History. Collaborative initiatives also extend to the Harvard Law School and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Impact and legacy

Its influence extends far beyond Cambridge, Massachusetts, shaping the development of African-American studies as an academic discipline nationwide. Alumni hold prestigious positions in academia, government, law, and the arts, contributing to institutions like Princeton University, the United States Department of Justice, and the Supreme Court of the United States. The department's public-facing work, such as the Finding Your Roots television series and digital archives like The Freedmen's Bureau Project, has profoundly impacted popular understanding of African American history and genealogy, cementing its role as a vital intellectual and cultural resource.

Category:Harvard University Category:African and African American studies