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Lilith, recent premiere of a new opera by AASM faculty and Guggenheim Award-winning composer Anthony Davis, with an original libretto by TMC Provost and Theatre Faculty Allan Havis.
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Investigating Our Past African-American Studies Minor Exploring Our Future

Celebrating over three centuries of Cultural Achievement in Arts, Humanities, Sciences and Folk Traditions

Welcome to the African-American Studies Minor

Welcome to the official website for the African-American Studies Minor at UC San Diego!

The interdisciplinary field of African-American Studies is a relative newcomer on the Academic scene and the establishment of the nation's first African-American Studies department occurred in 1968 at San Francisco State University. UCSD established the African-American Studies minor in the Fall of 2005. Building on the successful Contemporary Black Arts minor, the new African-American Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary field of study in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. The fundamental goal of the curriculum is to provide students with an introduction to the dynamic life experiences of African-Americans by guiding them to an open understanding of the unique attitudes, evolution, and circumstances of African-Americans. More ...

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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Upcoming Events:

Economic Empowerment Theme of Black History Month at UC San Diego

Members of the UC San Diego Black Student Union posed for a photo during a Black History Month event in 2009.

The need for economic development has been a central element to African-American empowerment and livelihood. After centuries of unrequited toil and despite gaining freedom, African-Americans were still plagued by a discriminatory society and the ills of poverty. In this regard, the University of California, San Diego is recognizing Black History Month with several events that reflect this year’s theme, Recognizing the Future of Black Economic Empowerment. More ...

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today."
—Malcolm X

• For a full listing of UC San Diego’s Black History Month events click here

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS! – Institute for Responsible Citizenship

The Institute for Responsible Citizenship is currently accepting applications for its summer leadership program in Washington, DC. The Institute provides America’s best and brightest African American male college students with unparalleled networking opportunities, leadership development, and life‐long mentorship.
DEADLINE: FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010 More ...

UCSD - Spelman/Morehouse Exchange Program

Application for the 2010-2011 UCSD - Spelman/Morehouse Exchange are available. Learn more about this Exchange Program.

Application pdf deadline is Friday, February 12, 2010.

Dr. Floyd Gaffney Playwriting Competition

The University of California San Diego’s Theatre and Dance Department seeks from all enrolled undergraduate students submissions of previously unproduced, unpublished scripts highlighting the African-American experience in contemporary or historical terms. More ...

Deadline for entry is a postmark entry of 2/26/10.
The winner will be announced no later than 3/19/10.

The San Francisco Foundation Multicultural Fellowship Program

San Francisco Foundation

The San Francisco Foundation is now recruiting for the 2010-2012 Multicultural Fellowship Program. The Fellowship Program is seeking one Fellow in each of the following three program areas: Arts and Culture, Education, and Environment. Applications are due on Monday, March 22, 2010, and the Fellowship positions will commence July 1, 2010. More …

TMC Artist in Resident - Sylvia M’Lafi Thompson

Awarded winning actor M’Lafi Thompson has planned her one person TMC residency show in late January to be timed with the first anniversary of President Obama’s term in office. More ...

For questions regarding the minor,
please contact us by email at: af-amstudies@ucsd.edu or by phone at: (858) 534-0613