Galloway, N.J. – The rich tradition of Africana Studies at Stockton University encompasses four decades of educational opportunity for students to study and analyze the various disciplines from an African/African-American perspective.  

The program itself went through many iterations, starting as a collection of General Studies courses offered by various faculty members. The courses were all centered on the Black experience and included topics such as music, entertainment and the law.  

It was the vision and dedication of the original group of faculty members, including Distinguished Professor of Social Work Pat Reid-Merritt, that led to the establishment of the Africana Studies program. In the spring of 1983, they proposed that the collection of courses be formalized into a new topic concentration originally called “Afro-American Studies,” offering interested students the opportunity to earn a certificate.

“There was a general awareness that people were developing concentrations around certain areas (of study), and we figured, yes, we should do it too,” Reid-Merritt shared. “Adele Beverly (professor emeritus of Nursing) worked on developing a proposal that we could take to the Faculty Senate. There were about nine of us, and we said that we needed this concentration. Soon, it was approved.”

The rest is history — Africana Studies became a recognized minor and, in 2019, a degree-granting major, offering students the opportunity to delve deeper into their studies in five different areas: arts and Entertainment, Global Perspectives, History/Humanities, Literature, and Social and Political Perspectives. Students in both the major and minor are also eligible for membership in the National Council of Black Studies’ national honor society, Ankh Maat Wedjau, due to the program’s affiliation with the NCBS.  

For students like senior Keisha Richards, an Africana Studies major, the program doesn’t just build on what students learn about Black history in elementary, middle or high school – it is often where a student just begins exploring these different and contemporary topics, which has a tremendous impact on their identity.

“I feel that me not learning it (in elementary school) didn’t give me a sense of who I was, where I came from, or what purpose or connection I have here in this world,” Richards shared. “So, I think if they offer these courses, it gives a child who doesn’t really know what they want to do or where they want to go in life an opportunity to see that we’re important and needed here.”

For student Guivenchial Saint-Jean, a dual major in Africana Studies and Environmental Science, the program has “had a profound change” on him.

“I find myself very interested in this, and I think it is because I’m learning about myself and my family’s history and the people who came before us – the family I never got to meet, their stories, and how those circumstances impact me,” Saint-Jean said.

Africana Studies majors can use their knowledge and understanding of people of African descent in any professional field to educate others and increase sensitivity, pursuing careers in fields ranging from the sciences to criminal justice, politics, education and entertainment.

For those seeking a global perspective, the program offers the exciting opportunity to study abroad in either South or West Africa through faculty-led programs. Recently, students were led on a transformative journey to Ghana for Donnetrice Allison's course “West Africa Now,” where they explored historical sights, visited museums and participated in traditional ceremonies, such as a naming ceremony in Kumasi and a libation ceremony at Ancestral River Park. This immersive experience is one that Assistant Professor Kimoni Yaw Ajani, who joined the trip as a faculty advisor, describes as “mind-blowing” and “fruitful.” 

“I always tell my students it's very important that they interact with people, travel and get introduced to different perspectives. Sometimes, you're not going to receive all the knowledge in texts or in a class,” Yaw Ajani said. “I think that (studying abroad) really adds weight to a true education. There’s a difference between schooling and education – education includes values and traditions that we learn and gain not just at home but from our travels and interactions with different groups of people.” 

Reid-Merritt looks at the program and its journey with pride. Looking toward the future, she finds herself inspired by the past.

“We have been able to elevate the program on a regional, local and national level, so the 40th anniversary is special to us, especially those of us who have been here all 40 years,” Reid-Merritt said. “It's a long record of achievement and it creates a legacy for people who want to make certain that an institution like Stockton offers courses that focus on the African-American experience and that it's taken seriously. Overall, Africana Studies has added to the diversity of our curricular offerings and the strength of the faculty in 40 years. It certainly has elevated the status of Stockton University, and it's something that we ought to be able to celebrate.”

Yaw Ajani, who joined the program in 2019 after students advocated for the African Studies major, is happy to be a part of the journey.

“To be part of that process and to add further to the tradition of Africana Studies moving forward is truly an honor, and I'm blessed to be in this space and to call this my first academic position,” Yaw Ajani said. “I'll be around for a minute, and I’m not going anywhere. We're going on 40, so I'll see you guys again when we turn 50.” 

As the Africana Studies program grows, so does it's impact: three high schools will visit the campus on Monday, April 15, to experience a day in the life of an Africana Studies student at Stockton. The students will have the opportunity to meet faculty and staff, ask current students about their perspective on the program and even attend a class with Yaw Ajani.  

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 – Story by Loukaia Taylor