It was the spring of 1969, and the Boston College Black Forum had just emerged from eight weeks of meetings with BC faculty and administrators. The students had successfully negotiated the creation of a Black Studies program—set to launch the following September—with the goal of expanding BC’s Black student and faculty population.
Young also spoke about the administrative obstacles that she faced during the program’s expansion phase.
Created in 1969 in response to advocacy by the Boston College Black Student Forum, the initial African and African Diaspora Studies program—then “Black Studies”—offered only three classes: African Art, The History and Psychological Development of the Black Family, and African Nationalism Since World War II.
Nearly 50 years after the Black Forum advocated for and won ‘black studies’ classes at Boston College, the program, now under the name African and African Diaspora Studies (AADS) has become a major. The minor, created in 1985, was academically neglected and most popular for cultural diversity core requirements until 2006, when the program was…
Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley announced the change at Faculty Convocation on Wednesday. Students have been able to pursue a minor in the subject since 1985.
Abena Ampofoa Asare lectured on African institutions’ use of victims’ voices as an attempt to heal past injustices on Tuesday.
Almost a year after the “Silence is Still Violence” march, Boston College is staring down several obstacles that stand in the way of a more diverse and representative faculty, but according to figures, BC has one of the most diverse faculties of its peer schools.
The hirings will give the program the opportunity to explore becoming a major down the line.
BC students, faculty, and staff weigh in on the University’s social climate after recent events on campus and in the city.
