A Look into the Origins of Black Studies
The history of African Americans is essential to the history of the Americas. African Americans have played a significant role in shaping the country’s cultural, political, and economic landscape. Once upon a time, African American history was something only taught by word of mouth, passed on from one person to another. Going to school to learn about African American history wasn’t an option.
Then, in the 1960s, African American studies emerged, acknowledging the contributions and struggles of African Americans throughout history. The field encompasses various disciplines, including history, literature, sociology, and anthropology, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the African American experience. The creation of such has helped shape the identities of African Americans since its inception.
The call for greater representation in education started with African American educators and students alike. Racial disparities existed within the system, and there were calls to fix the problems that held many African American students back.
George R. Crippen, an educator at Galileo High School (and soon-to-be chair of African American Studies at San Francisco City College in 1968), penned these documents, detailing some of the issues present at the time. These documents give some insight into racial dynamics at play in the educational system.
The formation of African American studies was a collaboration. Many educators from schools across the country worked in tandem with one another. It wasn’t because of one person, one school, one educational institution, or one singular group.
As stated before, students also played a large role in calling for change. Many African American students were aware that there was more that could be done to enhance their education.
Below are some examples of how black students called for the enhancement of their education amongst other things. Newspapers such as the Black Guard and organizations such as the Black Panther Party were integral. Many of the participants in such groups provided assistance to black educators. Despite that history often portrays groups like the Black Panthers as singular organizations, the truth is that the fight for African American rights and equality was fluid. The Black Panthers, the Divine Nine Sororities and Fraternities, black newspapers, educators, and individuals — the struggle was a movement. Everyone played a role.
Below is the Black Guard newspaper, founded and run by African-American students. This issue from January of 1968 calls for the addition of a black curriculum. Black History Week was established at the college as a beginning step, but ultimately, the African American studies department was formed, with George R. Crippen becoming the chair of it in early 1969.
This issue of the Black Strike calls for the freedom of Huey Newton. This is another example of student solidarity, which helped bring African American studies to fruition.
San Francisco State College was the focus of much change during the 1960s. Dr. Nathan Hare was recruited by John Summerskill to coordinate a black studies program. Dr. Hare played an important role in the formation of African American Studies and coordinated with other black intellectuals to do so.
He provided faculty support for the Black Student Union, similar to how others such as Aubrie LaBrie, Ewart Guinier, George Crippen, St. Clair Drake, and more did so. The strikes and other actions helped push Black Studies into prominence as San Francisco State University is one the biggest colleges in California.
Starting in 1966, the Black Curriculum was introduced as a general elective starting with a black nationalism class taught by Aubrie LaBrie. Soon, the Black Student Union pushed to establish a broader curriculum, which ultimately resulted in the birth of the program. The program would ultimately become its department.
The curriculum depicted in the pamphlet below provides some insight on the nature of the Black Studies program and the classes provided.
The fight was not over once departments were established for African American studies, unfortunately. The ramifications of striking, pushing for its establishment, and other forms of protest resulted in arrests and firings, and some, like Dr. Nathan Hare, were unable to find work at other universities despite having helped with providing an educational foundation for a significant portion of the population.
The logistics of running an entire department for African American studies could be arduous as well. Often, the heads of the department had to fight for what they could get while balancing budgets, keeping in touch with the students, dealing with external pressures, and more.
Below are more documents that show some of the reality of being the chair of an entire department.
The fight for African American educational rights was successful in many ways. Although many of the people who helped died, ended up blacklisted and faced adversity for their decisions, African American youths have benefitted greatly since.
Despite the sacrifices made, the youth now have greater access to information regarding African American history and culture. the establishment of African American studies is important to the cultural identities of African-Americans everywhere.
The letters below are from high schoolers back in 1969, and many of them talked about the importance of black studies.
Struggles with obtaining education have always been an issue in the African American community. A lot of educational disenfranchisements have set people back, and historically, African Americans have always had factors standing in their way to keep them disconnected from education and history. The fight continues as state governments attempt to enact laws to prevent the teaching of such.
However, the hard work of black intellectuals continues to win every battle. The history of education for black people has involved much struggle, but the results have been worthwhile. Just as those who’ve came before helped build foundations for more African Americans to build on, the hope is that future generations will continue to strengthen those foundations.
To end this off, here is a letter from Maya Angelou that perfectly encapsulates the essence of the black intellectuals responsible for African American studies and more:
Many thanks to Sir George R. Crippen for providing the historical artifacts above, and much more.