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Led by faculty from the departments of Communication, Ethnic Studies, Literature, Music, Sociology, and Theatre and Dance, scholars and artists investigate the history and culture of peoples of the African Diaspora exploring both the ways in which the African-American experience is configured by economic, political, and social factors, and the aesthetic dimensions of the experience as expressed in music, art, and literature. The minor offers a unique perspective as to how African-Americans helped shape American cultural history and continue to transform it today.

AASM is sponsored by Thurgood Marshall College at UCSD. Although AASM is housed in Marshall College, the minor is offered campus wide and is open to all undergraduate students in good academic standing.

In addition to the academic component, the AASM program also plans and sponsors various events and activities on campus, including film screenings, discussion forums, guest speakers, resident artists and seminars. The program works collaboratively with various organizations in an effort to meet both the academic and social needs of underrepresented students on campus. Some of these organizations include the Black Student Union at UCSD (BSU), The African-American Studies Association (AASA), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), The Community Law Project at UCSD, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Cross Cultural Center (CCC), The Ujima Network, Historically African-American Sororities and Fraternities, The Chicano/a Latino/a Arts and Humanities Program (CLAH) and the Division of Student Affairs at UC San Diego.

Why Study African-American Studies?

 "We acknowledge that our society carries historical and divisive biases based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and political beliefs. Therefore, we seek to foster understanding and tolerance among individuals and groups, and we promote awareness through education..."- UCSD Principles of Community

It is the responsibility of the educational community to foster a more full appreciation of the history and culture of the various peoples who make up our nation and the world community. Artifacts of the African-American experience have penetrated all aspects of popular American life from dress, music, language, art, dance, history, and politics. This penetration has essentially been through oral and visual transmission which unfortunately has in many ways led to misunderstanding and misappropriation. A coherent study of African-American culture helps to alleviate the misrepresentation which has led to the development of ethnic stereotypes that continue to breed misunderstanding.

The study of cultures and perspectives different from our own serve to broaden and deepen our individual experience and foster tolerance among various people groups for "It is not our differences that divide us, it is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." -Audre Lorde

If you would like to receive emails about AASM related events through our listserv email,
please contact at af-amstudies@ucsd.edu .

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