Black Studies

Created by the Black Academic Development Lab at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, the Journal of Black Language and Culture is an interdisciplinary publication featuring articles that connect the study of Black language practices with cultural life and identity. The journal will begin publishing in early 2026.

This summer, the department of comparative race and ethnic studies and the department of women and gender studies at Texas Christian University will close and be merged with the department of English. The university cites low enrollment as the reason for this decision.

Dr. Anderson has studied inequality, structural racism, and crime and violence for nearly five decades. The author of five books, he currently serves as the the Sterling Professor of Sociology and of Black studies at Yale University.

Launched earlier this year, the Black Critical Theory Initiative at the University of California, Berkeley, aims to bring greater attention to contemporary issues in Black studies. The program is led by Henry Washington, Jr., assistant professor of African American studies.

First established as a bachelor's degree program in 1969, the African American studies department at Yale University has been renamed to the Black Studies Department to reflect the growing number of new professors who study the African diaspora beyond the United States.

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

The bachelor's degree in African and African American studies program is one of six academic programs that have been recently eliminated at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. These cuts are part of the institution's efforts to reduce its total budget by $25 million.

Katherine Tate, professor of political science at Brown University, is a leading scholar on African American politics, race and gender in political science, American public opinion, government, and urban politics.

Destin Jenkins, David J. Knight, and Lauren Whitehurst have joined Yale Faculty of Arts and Sciences. All three scholars will teach in the Black studies program, with primary appointments in history, sociology and psychology, respectively.

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

“Voice assistant technology should understand different dialects of all African American English to truly serve not just African Americans, but other persons who speak these unique dialects,” said Gloria Washington, associate professor at Howard University. “It's about time that we provide the best experience for all users of these technologies.”

“Our hope is that this policy agenda will serve as a rallying point to increase momentum for positive, holistic change,” write the authors of the report from the Congressional Black Caucus and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. “These challenges are not new, and we remain resolute and hopeful that change can and will be achieved.”

“Policies aimed at reducing healthcare disparities must prioritize racial justice, addressing digital redlining, technological exclusion, and the economic marginalization of Black communities,” write the study authors. “By leveraging health technology effectively, healthcare systems can work towards reducing disparities, enhancing patient engagement, and improving health outcomes for all populations.”

A former Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Eaton studies African American literary and cultural history in the American West, women’s narratives, and Africana studies. She currently teaches as a professor of African and African American studies at the University of Oklahoma.

“We are thrilled to introduce the world’s first HBCU studies course in family and consumer sciences,” said Jada Brooks, interim chair of VSU's family and consumer science department. "This course will allow students to explore the HBCU experience through a curricular lens."

The "Hear Us, Believe Us, Invest In Us: Helping Parents Advocate for Black Teachers" toolkit is designed to help mobilize parents to advocate for more Black teachers through outreach to local representatives, school district administrators, and community organizations.

Through collaboration with the Ivy League school's Institute for Research in African American Studies, the new doctoral program aims to advance the next generation of scholars, activists, and leaders dedicated to the study of people of African descent across the globe.

Black homeownership rates in New York City are plummeting. In response, scholars from Medgar Evers College have announced plans to provide public workshops and legal classes focused on supporting the financial stability of Black New Yorkers.

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

Throughout his long career in academia, Dr. Gates has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding the genealogical history of African Americans. His work has resulted in dozens of books, documentaries, and the popular "Finding Your Roots" series on PBS.