Africana Studies

Habari Gani! It is an honor to serve as Chair of one of the oldest and largest Black Studies departments in the nation. We are cultivating an intellectual environment grounded in the histories, cultures, and worldview of African people that seeks to activate the strengths of our students and their communities.

Through our degree programs, curriculum and programming, we aim to raise students' and scholars' critical race consciousness and cultural literacy to challenge systemic racism, anti-Blackness and inequities. We also offer a wealth of community engagement and empowerment opportunities.

Consider taking a course with us. Also, explore the benefits of majoring or minoring in Africana Studies. Our Majors gain:

1. Cultural intelligence and critical race literacy & consciousness
2. Preparation for culturally appropriate civic engagement
3. Africana literary and cultural competence
4. Knowledge and skills in Africana research methodologies and methods for studying people of African descent
5. Training in advocacy for social change and social justice

We remain committed to the wellbeing of our students, their families and communities. Establishing and maintaining partnerships with local, national and international communities are vital to our success.

As we begin the start of a new semester, we strive to advance academic excellence, liberatory scholarship, and community empowerment.

Welcome to the Africana Studies Department,

Dr. Marquita Gammage,
Full Professor and Chair

Africana Studies Statement of Affirmation of the Humanity and Dignity of African and Indigenous Peoples and Call to Action to Address the Racists Statements by L.A. City Council President and Others

The Africana Studies Department at California State University, Northridge stand in firm commitment to respecting, honoring and celebrating the dignity and humanity of African peoples and Indigenous peoples globally.

The work of Black communities, activist, educators, and anti-racist politicians have contributed to the dismantling of anti-Black white-supremacist racist ideologies, practices and public policies. Systematic assaults against African peoples, cultures, and civilizations are longstanding and continue to reveal the embedded anti-Black and racists ideologies and policies that plague our nation and the city of Los Angeles. We continue to demand that public officials, representatives and elected state and local politicians demonstrate their respect, through word and action, for the human dignity and rights of Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Elected public officials, including the L.A. City Council, must uphold these responsibilities.

Collectively, Black and Latinx/a/o communities and Ethnic Studies Departments have united to support the Black Lives Matter Movement and continue to stand in solidarity on issues of advocating for the human and civil rights of our communities.

The racist comments by L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo, Kevin de Leon, and Ron Herrera are grotesque and contradict the collective work of our diverse ethnic communities and are damaging and dangerous to the diversity of the people of this city and do not support inclusivity. We demand the immediate resignation of Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo, Kevin de Leon, and Ron Herrera from the L.A. City Council. We demand an investigation into the violation of African Americans human rights and the human rights all other groups attacked.

As an academic discipline and as scholar-activists trained and grounded in investigating and dismantling systematic racism, we recognize the importance of structural policy changes to address racism. We challenge the City of Los Angeles to mandate anti-racism training and annual assessments for all public officials.

In Service,

The Africana Studies Department
California State University, Northridge

AFRS Students Tell us about your Accomplishments!

We invite Africana Studies students to take a short survey about your academic and personal accomplishments.