Department of African American Studies, Princeton University

As a department committed to the study of African American history, culture, and intellectual traditions, we recognize Juneteenth as both a commemoration of emancipation and an invitation to engage more deeply with the ongoing pursuit of justice, equity, and liberation.

Honoring Juneteenth: Reflection, Learning, and Community Engagement Juneteenth stands as a national moment of remembrance, celebration, and continued reflection on the long struggle for Black freedom in the United States. Observed annually on June 19, it marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the enforcement of the Emancip...

Day Two panels of the 2026 Black Q***r & Trans Studies Graduate Conference will be held on Saturday, May 2, at McCosh Hall.

These panels examine how Black q***r and trans communities theorize, enact, and contest power through resistance, movement, and claims to belonging. The conversations engage global perspectives while foregrounding the political and intellectual stakes shaping Black q***r and trans studies today.

This event is open to all — registration is required. Learn more and register: aas.princeton.edu/events

Day One panels of the 2026 Black Q***r & Trans Studies Graduate Conference take place on Friday, May 1, at McCosh Hall.

What does it mean to do Black q***r/trans studies now? Amidst intensifying state violence both within and beyond the academy, Day One panels invite inter- and cross-disciplinary engagement with Black q***r/trans life and politics through a global lens. Graduate and early-career scholars will explore the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and power in conversation with one another.

This event is open to all — registration is required. Learn more and register: aas.princeton.edu/events

TOMORROW (4/26)
🗓️ AAS Co‑Sponsored Event: “The Jefferson Paradox”
Sunday, April 26, 3:00 PM
Nassau Presbyterian Church
OPEN TO ALL

Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. joins Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Annette Gordon‑Reed as she discusses her new book Jefferson on Race, examining one of the central contradictions in American history.

Special Event: The Jefferson Paradox Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed, joined by Eddie Glaude, discusses her book "Jefferson on Race," examining his ideals of equality and his contradictory life as a slaveholder.. Event starts at April 26, 2026 3:00 PM EDT

What does it mean to do Black q***r/trans studies now? Amidst intensifying state violence both in and outside of the academy, this conference is an invitation to explore the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and power through a global lens. The conference will be a space for inter- and cross-disciplinary dialogue amongst graduate and early-career scholars of Black q***r/trans life and politics, capaciously defined. This event is open to all — Registration is required.

Learn more at aas.princeton.edu/events!

Professor Joshua Guild joined Dr. Greene‑Hayes for a conversation examining Greene‑Hayes’s first book, "Underworld Work: Black Atlantic Religion Making in Jim Crow New Orleans"(University of Chicago Press, 2025). The discussion explored the book’s rethinking of African American religious history, with particular attention to the development and evolution of Africana spiritual traditions in Jim Crow–era New Orleans.

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE: AAS Alumni Mix & Mingle

Join us May 22, 2–4 PM at Morrison Hall for an afternoon of connection, reflection, and celebration with the African American Studies community.

Learn More and Register at https://buff.ly/i7faxiC!

AAS Alumni Mix & Mingle Join us for an afternoon of cherished memories, forging new connections, and celebrating the legacy of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University…

The Department of African American Studies proudly congratulates Daniel Yu, African American Studies major, and Princeton Class of 2026 valedictorian on this extraordinary achievement. We are immensely proud to celebrate this milestone and look forward to the continued impact of his work and leadership beyond the University.

Learn more at aas.princeton.edu/news!

🗓️ AAS Co‑Sponsored Event
"The Jefferson Paradox"
Sunday, April 26, 3:00 PM
Nassau Presbyterian Church

Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. joins Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Annette Gordon‑Reed as she discusses her new book Jefferson on Race, a deep examination of one of the central contradictions in American history.

More info: https://buff.ly/GC3nLOu

Keeanga‑Yamahtta Taylor joined Jelani Cobb for a timely conversation on Cobb’s new book, "Three or More Is a Riot", tracing a decade of Black protest, backlash, and the forces that shaped our current moment.