October 2nd 2025.
After much internal discussion, Yale University's African American Studies department has officially changed its name to Black Studies. This decision, made 55 years after the department's establishment, was a result of a thorough process that began during the 2022-23 academic year under the leadership of then-chair Phillip Atiba Solomon. The main concern with the previous name was that it was too U.S.-centric and did not fully encompass the department's research on Brazil, the Caribbean, and West Africa.
According to Erica Edwards, the current chair of the newly renamed department, the new name better reflects the department's focus on the entire African diaspora and not just the United States. She emphasized that Black Studies is about studying the lives, histories, movements, and creative expressions of Black people all over the world, not just in North America or the Americas.
Elleza Kelley, the director of undergraduate studies, also expressed her support for the name change, stating that it reaffirms the department's dedication to studying Black life, history, and culture beyond the United States. This commitment is further exemplified by recent faculty hires, with a focus on scholars whose research centers on Haiti, Brazil, and diasporic art practices.
While some students are optimistic about the name change, there is also cautiousness about whether it will lead to significant institutional changes or remain symbolic. Professor Kaiama Glover, whose research focuses on anti-Black state violence in Brazil, noted that the previous name had a narrow connotation and was primarily associated with the United States.
This shift in terminology is not unique to Yale. In 2024, Georgetown University also changed the name of its department from "African American Studies" to "Black Studies." However, despite the name change, the department's internal administrative elements, such as its course code, remain the same. Additionally, Yale plans to hold a panel discussion in October to commemorate the 1968 Black Studies in the University symposium.
The department's website now describes its mission as exploring the experiences of people of African descent in Black Atlantic societies, including the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. This broader and more inclusive approach to the study of Black history and culture is a crucial step towards promoting diversity and understanding in academic spaces.
In related news, Yale recently honored the first known Black man to attend the university with a posthumous degree, 200 years after his enrollment. This serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of Black individuals throughout history.
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