Black Studies Minor

The Black Studies minor provides a nuanced understanding, education and appreciation of the history, politics, and culture of people of African decent in the African Diaspora. It provides an intellectual platform to discuss topical issues of the day impacting Black and Brown populations in the United States of America and beyond.

Courses in this minor examine social construction of racial differences and their relation to the perpetuation of racism and racial domination. A key component of this minor is an investigation of the meanings and dimensions of blackness and other ethnic minority groups that reverberate from slavery and colonialism to the persistent political, social, and cultural implications in the 21st century. The minor emphasizes how blackness intersects with other ethnic identities and how it is shaped by gender, sexuality, and economic inequities. The aim is to refine and advance students’ knowledge of black life-worlds and experiences across the globe.

Benefits of the Black Studies Minor for all Majors

The minor affords students the opportunity to explore multiple academic disciplines through the lens of the Black and Brown experience and consider personal views about race and racism, using anti-Black racism as a framework for understanding. Students will consider ways to promote racial equity and become leaders and social activists within their respective communities. The Black Studies Minor is designed to attract students from all fields of study and complement all majors

By exploring themes across multiple programs, students are prepared for graduate study and for work in careers in government, community service, education, non-profit agencies, museums, business, communications, and law enforcement and for making constructive contributions to our increasingly multi-ethnic society, equipping them with the tools to address issues of systemic racism and social inequality and to be agents of change after graduating.