What will you learn as an African American Studies student?
The African American Studies Program brings together a dedicated team of professors from various disciplines who are passionate about both academic excellence and social responsibility.
The program draws from nine different academic fields, including African American Studies, anthropology, sociology, English, political science, education, theater, history, religious studies and psychology. You'll study topics such as:
- African American Society and Culture
- African American Art, Literature, Theatre, Religions
- Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin Studies
- Race, Violence, and Memory in American History
- Minority Entrepreneurship
- Democracy, Culture, and the Arts
- Race, Gender, and Environment
- Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination
- Race and Ethnic Relations
- Studies in Black Feminism
By exploring these diverse subjects, both students and faculty reflect on the history and culture of the Black experience. When you study here, we'll encourage you to consider the complexities and opportunities of living and working in a diverse world where multiple ethnicities exist.
African American Studies became an official subject of study through a student strike at San Francisco State University in 1968. During this time, students insisted that the history and culture of Black Americans be recognized and taught as an essential part of the curriculum. Their activism helped establish African American Studies as a formal discipline.
The African American Studies Program at the College of Charleston began in 1996 as a minor and added a major in 2014.
In honor of the late Conseula Francis, Ph.D. Francis was the first African American Studies Program Director and Professor of English. She was the first Black woman promoted to full professor at the College, and she used her position and influence to personally advocate for students, junior faculty and, most especially, students and junior faculty of color. This 
In honor of Dr. “O”. Dr. O was the founder and director of the Gullah Society, former program director at the Avery Research Center, and adjunct faculty member with the African American Studies Program. Dr. O was a staunch advocate for his students and sought to improve antiracism on campus and beyond. This 
In honor of Bernie Powers, Ph.D. Powers is professor emeritus in the Department of History. He is one of the foremost scholars on the history of Black Charleston. As a history professor at the College, Powers taught the first African American history course that helped lay the framework for what would become the African American Studies program. This