African American Studies at CofC

African American Studies at CofC African American Studies began as a discipline formally with a student strike at San Francisco State in 1968.

Students demanded that the history and culture of black Americans be included as part of the curriculum and intellectual life on their campus. The African American Studies Program at the College of Charleston carries on that legacy. Offering both an interdisciplinary major and minor, the program focuses on the study of African American experiences. African American Studies aims to provide students an understanding of the history and culture of African Americans; to introduce students to the diversity of African American experiences in a variety of disciplines; to promote the study of African American history and culture in the larger community; and to make African American Studies an integral part of intellectual life at the College of Charleston. Students with degrees in African American Studies pursue careers in various areas, such as law, politics, medicine, art, teaching, entertainment, and journalism.

Our 30 for 30 Alumni Spotlight articles are now LIVE! 🎉We’re celebrating 30 years of African American Studies at the Col...
09/30/2026

Our 30 for 30 Alumni Spotlight articles are now LIVE! 🎉

We’re celebrating 30 years of African American Studies at the College of Charleston by highlighting five alumni each month until we’ve honored 30!

Our September honorees share how African American Studies shaped their identities, careers, and contributions to their communities. From technology and public history to mental health, advocacy, and law, their stories show the lasting impact of an AAST education.

Explore the celebration:
https://charleston.edu/african-american-studies/30-for-30-aast-spotlight.php

Read each alumni spotlight below:

✨ Ethan Davis ’19
https://charleston.edu/african-american-studies/30th-year-aast/ethan-davis.php

✨ Sara Makeba Daise ’12
https://charleston.edu/african-american-studies/30th-year-aast/sara-daise.php

✨ Quinandria Lee ’16
https://charleston.edu/african-american-studies/30th-year-aast/quinandria-lee.php

✨ Aurora Harris ’11
https://charleston.edu/african-american-studies/30th-year-aast/aurora-harris.php

✨ LaQunya Baker-McKay ’13
https://charleston.edu/african-american-studies/30th-year-aast/laqunya-baker-mckay.php

Join us in congratulating our first five honorees, and share their stories with your community! 💛

30 FOR 30 | Celebrating 30 Years of African American StudiesWe’re celebrating 30 years of African American Studies at th...
09/29/2026

30 FOR 30 | Celebrating 30 Years of African American Studies

We’re celebrating 30 years of African American Studies at the College of Charleston! 🎉

To kick off our multi-month anniversary celebration, we’re proud to introduce a special alumni spotlight series, honoring 30 alumni whose journeys reflect the impact and legacy of African American Studies beyond CofC.

Each month, we’ll recognize five alumni, sharing their stories, accomplishments, and the many ways they are making an impact in their professions and communities.

Our first five honorees are LaQunya Baker-McKay ’13, Sara Makeba Daise ’12, Quinandria Lee ’16, Ethan Davis ’19, and Aurora Harris ’11.

📖 Their full alumni spotlights drop tomorrow! Visit our website to read their stories and learn more about where their journeys have taken them since CofC.

And this is only the beginning. Throughout our 30th anniversary celebration, we’ll continue looking back at the history of the program, celebrating the people who helped shape it, and recognizing the alumni carrying its legacy forward.

30 years. 30 alumni. Countless stories of impact. ✊🏾❤️

RECAP | Consuela Francis Emerging Scholar Lecture ✨The African American Studies Program was honored to welcome Sara Make...
09/29/2026

RECAP | Consuela Francis Emerging Scholar Lecture ✨

The African American Studies Program was honored to welcome Sara Makeba Daise (Sara Makeba Daise, MA), Class of 2012, back to the College of Charleston for the Consuela Francis Emerging Scholar Lecture.

During her lecture, “What the South Asks of Us,” Daise shared her scholarship, perspective, and insight with our students, faculty, staff, and community members, creating space for meaningful conversation and reflection.

We extend our sincere thanks to Sara Makeba Daise for returning to CofC and sharing her time, knowledge, and voice with our community. We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening so special.

📍 Septima Clark Auditorium
📅 September 22, 2026
🎓 Consuela Francis Emerging Scholar Lecture

Thank you, Sara, for an inspiring evening and for continuing to contribute to the conversations that shape our community.

This Spring, take AAST 330: Black Images in the Media with Dr. Anthony D. Greene! 🎬Explore the history of Black represen...
09/28/2026

This Spring, take AAST 330: Black Images in the Media with Dr. Anthony D. Greene! 🎬

Explore the history of Black representation in American popular culture, examine the roots and evolution of stereotypes, and discuss how African Americans have challenged those narratives and created images of themselves for political and social purposes.

📚 AAST 330 | Black Images in the Media
📅 Spring 2027
🕑 Mondays & Wednesdays | 2:00–3:15 PM
👨🏾‍🏫 Dr. Anthony D. Greene

From television and film to advertising and popular culture, come ready to watch, question, analyze, and discuss.

🎓 Add AAST 330 to your Spring ’27 schedule!

09/24/2026

NOW ON VIEW | September 24-February 30 | Celebrating 30 Years of African American Studies (30-for-30)

As we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the African American Studies Program at the College of Charleston, we invite you to experience The Struggle for Integration at the College of Charleston, 1943–2015.

The exhibition explores the history of African Americans at the College, the struggle for integration, the experiences of pioneering Black students, the development of Black campus life, affirmative action, and the people who helped shape change at the College.

🎥 Here’s a sneak peek at just a few of the panels. There is much more history to discover in the full exhibition!

📍Thaddeus Street Jr. Education Center, Second Floor
Located directly in front of the African American Studies Program Suite (207)
🕘 On view from 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

Exhibition Credits:
Curator: Dr. Mari N. Crabtree
Research Assistant: Taylor Matthews

Come upstairs, explore the exhibition, and learn more about the history that helped shape the College. This is only a glimpse of what’s ahead as we commemorate 30 years of African American Studies at the College of Charleston. 🖤✨

AfricanAmericanHistory BlackHistoryAtCofC CofCHistory CharlestonSC

✨ Guest Speaker Spotlight: Sara Makeba Daise ✨We are thrilled to welcome alumna Sara Makeba Daise ('12) back to campus f...
09/04/2026

✨ Guest Speaker Spotlight: Sara Makeba Daise ✨

We are thrilled to welcome alumna Sara Makeba Daise ('12) back to campus for the Consuela Francis Emerging Scholar Lecture! 👑

Sara will present a powerful lecture titled "What the South Asks of Us." Join us for a thoughtful and inspiring discussion on history, culture, and community.

📍 Where: Septima Clark Auditorium (Room 118, Thaddeus Street, Jr. Education Center, 25 Philip St)

🗓️ When: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 @ 5:30 PM

Mark your calendars and save the date! We can’t wait to see you there! 👇💛

30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE! 🧱✨From 1996 to 2026, the College of Charleston African American Studies Program has been more th...
07/27/2026

30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE! 🧱✨

From 1996 to 2026, the College of Charleston African American Studies Program has been more than a department—it’s been an intellectual home, a cultural anchor, and a place where history is actively written. As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary, we’re looking back at our roots and honoring the journeys of those who walked these halls before us.

To kick off this milestone year, we need our alumni network to help us map our legacy with two major initiatives:

📊 The Alumni Profile Survey
Where has your AAST journey taken you? We are building a comprehensive database to track our graduates' professional milestones and community impact. This is your chance to pour back into the concrete we all grew from—indicate how you’d like to plug back in as a future guest speaker, panelist, mentor, or career advisor!

🏆 The "30-for-30" Alumni Spotlight
We are celebrating the history of the culture by highlighting the journeys, professional milestones, and leadership of 30 outstanding AAST graduates throughout the academic year.

👉 How to get featured:
Completing the survey automatically nominates you for the spotlight series! To be considered for the initial feature selections, make sure you submit your form by August 15, 2026.

Let’s honor the legacy and respect the journey. Tap the link in our bio to fill out the Alumni Profile Survey and 30-for-30 Nomination form today.

Keep an eye out for upcoming anniversary events and limited-edition swag announcements dropping soon!

✨ She’s That Girl. ✨The African American Studies Program at the College of Charleston is proud to highlight the upcoming...
07/14/2026

✨ She’s That Girl. ✨

The African American Studies Program at the College of Charleston is proud to highlight the upcoming She’s That Girl Conference, presented by Curated Space Counseling & Consulting!

This empowering event is dedicated to uplifting, inspiring, and pouring into the next generation of young women. From building community to fostering mental wellness and leadership, it’s all about celebrating growth and excellence.

Drop a 💛 if you’re ready to see these future leaders thrive!

✨ Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Alison Kibbe ✨Mark your calendars! The CofC African American Studies Program is thrilled to inv...
07/14/2026

✨ Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Alison Kibbe ✨

Mark your calendars! The CofC African American Studies Program is thrilled to invite you to our next Distinguished Faculty Lecture featuring Dr. Alison Kibbe! 🧠💫

Come out for an incredible evening of scholarship, culture, and community discussion as part of our ongoing celebration of 30 years of AAST at the College of Charleston. ✊🏽✨

🗓️ When: Wednesday, February 24 @ 5:00 PM

Swipe for details, tag a friend who needs to go, and we'll see you there! 👇💛

✨ Guest Speaker Spotlight: Sara Makeba Daise ✨The CofC AAST Program is incredibly excited to welcome alumna Sara Makeba ...
07/14/2026

✨ Guest Speaker Spotlight: Sara Makeba Daise ✨

The CofC AAST Program is incredibly excited to welcome alumna Sara Makeba Daise ('12) back to campus! 👑

An emerging scholar, Sara will be presenting a powerful lecture titled "What the South Asks of Us." You won’t want to miss this thoughtful dive into history, culture, and community.

📍 Where: Septima Clark Auditorium (Thaddeus Street, Jr. Education Center)
🗓️ When: Tuesday, Sept. 22 @ 5:30 PM

Swipe to see the flyer details and make sure to save the date! 👇💛

Address

66 George Street
Charleston, SC
29424

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when African American Studies at CofC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category