Workers, Consumers, and Civil Rights

Parker examines the movement to racially integrate white-collar work and consumption in American department stores, and broadens our understanding of historical transformations in African American class and labor formation.
Black Lives Matter and Music

In this collection of critical studies co-edited by Stephanie Shonekan, contributors draw from ethnographic research and personal encounters to illustrate how music in the Black Lives Matter movement can contribute to public awareness of the injustices in our society.
Fugitive Science: Empiricism and Freedom in Early African American Culture

Honorable Mention, 2019 MLA Prize for a First Book
Sole Finalist Mention for the 2018 Lora Romero First Book Prize, presented by the American Studies Association
Rusert's book exposes the influential work of a group of black artists to confront and refute scientific racism. Traversing the archives of early African American literature, performance, and visual culture, Britt Rusert uncovers the dynamic experiments of a group of black writers, artists, and performers.
Afro-American Studies at UMass

One of the largest departments of its kind, the W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies serves students seeking in-depth knowledge of the history and culture of black people in the Americas and the worldwide African Diaspora.

Spotlight Scholar - Professor Britt Rusert

May 08, 2019

Fugitive Science...

Professor Traci Parker Joins W.E.B. Du Bois Institute Fellows at Harvard University

May 08, 2019

Traci Parker joins the seventh class of W.E.B. Du Bois Institute Fellows at Harvard University. She will be in residence during the 2019-2020 academic year, working on her second book, Beyond...

More News »

Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

The Major

Why Afro-American Studies?

Our department is named for the great intellectual, a native of our Western Massachusetts region, who was the first academic scholar to pioneer the systematic study of people of African descent in the U.S. and throughout world. To earn a degree in Afro-American Studies, to take courses leading to a certificate or a minor is to follow in W.E.B. Du Bois’ footsteps of academic excellence and social responsibility.

Workers, Consumers, and Civil Rights Parker examines the movement to racially integrate white-collar work and consumption in American department stores, and broadens our understanding of historical transformations in African American class and labor formation.

Black Lives Matter and Music In this collection of critical studies co-edited by Stephanie Shonekan, contributors draw from ethnographic research and personal encounters to illustrate how music in the Black Lives Matter movement can contribute to public awareness of the injustices in our society.

Afro-American Studies at UMass One of the largest departments of its kind, the W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies serves students seeking in-depth knowledge of the history and culture of black people in the Americas and the worldwide African Diaspora.

Spotlight Scholar - Professor Britt Rusert

Professor Traci Parker Joins W.E.B. Du Bois Institute Fellows at Harvard University

Why Afro-American Studies?

Workers, Consumers, and Civil Rights

Parker examines the movement to racially integrate white-collar work and consumption in American department stores, and broadens our understanding of historical transformations in African American class and labor formation.

Black Lives Matter and Music

In this collection of critical studies co-edited by Stephanie Shonekan, contributors draw from ethnographic research and personal encounters to illustrate how music in the Black Lives Matter movement can contribute to public awareness of the injustices in our society.

Afro-American Studies at UMass

One of the largest departments of its kind, the W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies serves students seeking in-depth knowledge of the history and culture of black people in the Americas and the worldwide African Diaspora.