Full article: https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/1471956550
A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professor of African American studies, Bobby Smith II – have been awarded National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowships. “Congratulations to professors Ledesma and Smith on their selection for these highly competitive,...
African American Studies’ core faculty members Faye Harrison and Esther Ngumbi have joined Ken Salo (Urban & Regional Planning/African Studies), Krystal Smalls (Anthropology/Linguistics), Cameron McCarthy (EPOL/Institute of Communications Research [ICR]); doctoral students Chibundo Egwuatu (Anthropology), Lila Ann Dodge (Anthropology), and Adrian Wong (Media/ICR); and others in forming a...
Dr. Faye Harrison published an op-ed article, “How a Divided America Faces a Convergence of Multiple Crises,” in Pravda, a major center-left newspaper in Slovakia.
Once again, we have witnessed white police and vigilantes murder Black people in the United States. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade died violently and needlessly at the hands of white police officers and vigilantes. Their tragic and senseless deaths have triggered massive social protest in the United States and globally. We are truly living in...
Two articles authored by Dr. Bobby J. Smith II are featured in the 7th Edition of An Annotated Bibliography on Structural Racism Present in the U.S. Food System (January 2020) by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.
AFRO will be hosting three candidates for a new joint-position with the Department of Religion and the Department of African American Studies. Each candidate will be presenting their research and each talk is free and open to faculty, staff, and students. These events will offer insightful commentary on the intersection of religion and the Black experience. We look forward to seeing you! ...
Pest management and preventative measures are discussed in Dr. Ngumbi's article featured on theconversation.com
Dr. Desirée McMillion’s AFRO 382 – African American Families in Film class, had the privilege of a full two hour discussion with Director, Chuck Smith of the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Mr. Smith shared his life story on becoming a well-known director and his connection with Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. “Gem of the Ocean” - part of August Wilson’s American...
Dr. Karen Flynn has received two awards for her article, "Hotel Refuses Negro Nurse": Gloria Clark Baylis and the Queen Elizabeth Hotel
The Department of African American Studies enthusiastically welcomes Dr. Smith and Dr. Ngumbi to the faculty as Assistant Professors. Dr. Smith's work focuses on food justice in the United States, local food systems, race & class in food politics, and activism. More specifically, his current research seeks to understand the ways in which Black communities use food justice activism...
The Department of African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (DAAS) condemns the placement of a noose in an elevator in Allen Hall over Labor Day weekend. Students, faculty, staff, and the community are rightly outraged and incensed by this heinous act. The noose represents a painful symbol of lynching—one of the most violent forms of white supremacist terror and...
About 20 Illinois students interned with The Community Builders last summer as part of an ongoing effort by the Department of African American Studies to encourage students to participate in community engagement projects.
Toni Morrison was an award-winning author, professor, and speaker. Morrison earned her Bachelor's Degree from Howard University and her Master's Degree from Cornell University. Toni Morrison did not publish her first novel until she was thirty-nine years old, but the following almost-fifty years were marked by stunning success, international notoriety, and a position in...
A series of informal lectures and discussions on the innovative work going on at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the interconnectedness of AFRO with many academic disciplines and fields.