Fall 2023 AFAMBDS Courses
CAS AA 103: Introduction to African American Literature—Maryanne Boelcskevy Tues/Thurs 9 am-12:30 pm What is the African American literary tradition? How does it change over time? This course introduces the cultural, political, and historical contexts of the African American experience through readings of literature. Readings include poetry, slave narratives, essays and speeches, tales, short stories, […]
Watch: Dr. Paula Austin discusses the history of Black cuisine on WGBH
Yesterday on WGHB’s Basic Black, Dr. Paula Austin joined a conversation about the spread of the African American and African diaspora through food, culture and across history, and its impact today on Black-owned restaurants. In the conversation: Callie Crossley, Basic Black host Kwasi Kwaa, chef partner of Comfort Kitchen in Dorchester Anthony “Tony” Brooks, chef […]
Now accepting nominations: Edwards DEI Award
The Erin Victoria Edwards Award for Leadership Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will be given to College of Communication seniors and graduate students who are outstanding leaders in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Boston University, the College of Communication, and in the community. Erin Victoria Edwards is a former student of Boston University […]
Summer 2023 AFAMBDS Courses
Summer 1: CAS AA 313: The Politics and Policy of HBO’s The Wire—Shauna Shames Tues/Thurs, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm HBO’s television series The Wire is used to explore politics and policy. A number of interdisciplinary topics are covered, including the war on drugs; urban policing and education policy; and race, politics, and poverty. Effective […]
Watch: Gayl Jones Symposium, “Then You Don’t Want Me”
Now online: a keynote dialogue from the first-ever symposium dedicated to the work of Gayl Jones, “Then You Don’t Want Me”: Canonizing Gayl Jones! This video features Drs. Crystal Wilkinson and Alexis Pauline Gumbs discussing the creative influence and impact of Gayl Jones. Wilkinson and Gumbs highlight Jones’ storytelling techniques, the use of first-person perspective, […]
Now Available: 53.1
From the introduction of 53.1: “The clock is ticking at The Black Scholar. Changes that will affect the editorial team, vision, and ownership are emerging and surging. There is still some time but within two years the journal is likely to change hands. Hopefully—indeed we insist—we will maintain the remarkable community that has built up around the […]
Read: Dr. John Thornton discusses Florida’s rejection of AP African American Studies Course
Dr. John Thornton’s opinion piece, POV: Florida Rejects AP African American Studies Course—Who Pays the Price?, was recently published in BU Today. The initial curriculum of the AP African American Studies course, which is a college-level course taught to high school students for college credit, included many of the topics included in our Program’s courses, […]
Upcoming Book by Dr. Louis Chude-Sokei
Dr. Louis Chude-Sokei, professor & director of African American & Black Diaspora Studies and professor of English, will release a new book in 2025. A nonfiction book, Machines of Flesh and Blood: How Race Made Technology (forthcoming 2025, Viking) will explore “the synchronous evolution of blackness and artificial intelligence.” Read more in this article by […]
Books, Films, Albums, and Podcasts to read this #BlackHistorySeason
BU Today sourced recommendations from our faculty and staff on what to watch, read, and listen to this February in honor of Black History Month (or as we like to call it, #BlackHistorySeason). Read all of their suggestions in the article: Celebrate Black History Month with These Books, Films, Albums, and Podcasts
Upcoming Event: The 2023 Silas Peirce Lecture
On Beethoven, Blackness, and Belonging: Debating German Music Across the Black Atlantic Kira Thurman (Associate professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures and History, University of Michigan) Date & Time: February 13, 2023 at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Location: Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215 Co-sponsored by BU CAS, BU CFA, and BU Arts Initiative. […]