Across learning for almost 20 years, I found a gem of information hidden in most respects and not taught on many levels. Entering my senior year, I have recently started taking Black American Studies. Black American Studies is a program focusing on African history and the experience of the transition from Africans to African Americans.
After ten weeks of taking the courses, we had a discussion in two classes of the program that came to one conclusion: these courses should be core required curriculum in general education studies.
The classes are filled with people of various races and ages. The key class I am currently enrolled in is African American History to 1877. This program takes a unique approach for the class: by focusing on the AFRICAN part of the history. It is not another watered down and regurgitated version of the same history we are taught in school. The class focuses on the ancient African kingdoms and their perspective in the Transatlantic Slave Trade vs. the usual European perspective.
As an African American, it was extremely eye opening to learn the origins of where we come from… where we all come from. It was a very emotional and empowering experience to focus on Africa, a continent that most do not know much about and have a very jaded view of.
To see kings and queens and the rich culture was as equally glorious as it was painful transitioning to the slave trade. Questions that are always asked by certain people about the origins of American slavery are answered in the class and given a complex understanding as to the slave trade in Africa.
The key part that has stuck with me throughout the class is that the origins and systems built through the institution of slavery are pivotal even more so to American history as the loss of African cultures and traditions are stripped away and evolved into cornerstones of some of the most popular things in American culture: music, sports, and much more.
There is a wealth of information that is enlightening to all who decide to learn about African history and Black American Studies. I highly recommend it and follow my peers’ beliefs that Black American Studies should be required as African history is American history.
