The Department of African American Studies is an interdisciplinary department with a mission of teaching and conducting research in social sciences and humanities fields on the historical and contemporary experience of Africans and African Americans. The Department offers a major, dual majors, a minor and a host of elective courses based in interdisciplinary approaches to the study of history, culture, language, political systems and behaviors of peoples of African ancestry in the United States, the Caribbean, Africa and throughout the African Diaspora. All courses are open to all students.
Two traditions encompass the Department’s academic thrust – – African American and African. The academic offerings center their attention on three areas of cluster studies: historical studies, cultural studies, and social & behavioral studies.
The Department’s areas of focus are the experiences of Black people in the United States, from the early days of colonization and enslavement, to contemporary issues, such as Hip Hop Culture and Jazz and the experiences of Africans both in the continent of Africa and throughout the Diaspora.
For more than 30 years the African American Master Artists-in-Residence Program (AAMARP), an adjunct of the Department African American Studies at Northeastern University has served to bring a diversity of excellence from Artists of African Heritage to the University Community. AAMARP is a vital link between the local community, national artists, a growing association of international artists and Northeastern University.
Our focus has, and will continue to be:
- Bringing to greater Boston the collective skills of these artists through open studios, workshops, seminars, discussions, lectures, exhibitions and visiting artists
- To revitalize, motivate and educate historically deprived communities throughout the United States with the artistic achievement of African Americans and the African Diaspora.
- To expand knowledge and respect of current and historical contributions to the visual arts from throughout the African Diaspora.
- To provide educational opportunities and experiences within and beyond the Northeastern Community
AAMARP will continue to be a visual arts resource and ambassador of goodwill to the local, national, and international communities from Northeastern University’s African American Studies Department
AAMARP Vision Statement
As the African American Master Artists in Residence Program (AAMARP) moves into the 21st century, we will continue to pursue our primary mission while expanding into new endeavors. These activities will include, but are not limited to:
- Slide and digital archive resource of regional, national and international artists from the African Diaspora
- Visiting artists residencies
- Emerging artists mentoring
- Expanded galleries and exhibitions schedule
- New media workshops and labs
- General colloquiums
- Critique format colloquium