Faculty members in Arts and Humanities focus on forms such as literature, music, dance, and film. In our research and teaching, we explore how ideas about society are expressed through dance, we examine the production and reception of literary texts, and we trace how contemporary musical performances are influenced by earlier styles. The arts are one of the most important areas in which African Americans have reflected on their past, their present, and their possible future. Understanding African American artistic contributions, then, are key for understanding the African American experience.