Departmental News

News & Events


  • Places and Spaces: Michael Cohen & Barbara Montano

    April 7, 2024

    Professor Michael Cohen and Project Manager Barbara Montano are featured on KCSM 91.1's radio show, "Places and Spaces."

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  • Addressing bias and bigotry mini-grant awards

    April 1, 2024

    The Department of African American Studies was awarded a mini-grant from the "Addressing bias and bigotry" mini-grant program from the Chancellor's Office for a project created by graduate student Jasmine Flowers. 

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  • Creating a Refuge for Banned Scholars

    March 27, 2024

    From the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation: By Anthony Balas March 26, 2024 The University of California, Berkeley, is making a hopeful case for African American studies amid attacks on academic freedom.  Critical as they are to a healthy democracy, open conversations at public universities on race, history, and freedom are increasingly threatened by an array of attacks—from cuts to funding for humanities departments to legislation that restricts higher education institutions from incorporating topics like racial injustice into curricula.  To Nikki Jones, who is a professor and chair of the Department of African American Studies at UC Berkeley, these attacks can be understood,…

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  • UC Berkeley African American Studies launches Banned Scholars Project with a Mellon Foundation grant

    March 27, 2024

    UC Berkeley’s African American Studies (AAS) Department launched a groundbreaking project this week with a $100,000 Affirming Multivocal Humanities grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Banned Scholars Project is a direct response to increasing restrictions on academic freedom, particularly in the fields of critical race theory, DEI and gender studies. It was spearheaded by AAS professors Michael M. Cohen, Tianna S. Paschel and Ula Taylor; department chair Nikki Jones; and managed by staffer Barbara Montano.

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  • Black Habits of Photography

    March 14, 2024

    Professor Leigh Raiford gives the Anna-Marie Kellen lecture during her fellowship at the American Academy in Berlin.

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  • Congratulations to Tianna Paschel, 2024 Carol D. Soc Distinguished Graduate Student Mentoring Award

    March 1, 2024

    Professor Tianna Paschel is awarded the 2024 Carol D. Soc Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award.

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  • Assistant Professor Recruitment-Afterlives of Slavery–African American Studies–University of California, Berkeley

    September 5, 2023

    Assistant Professor-Afterlives of Slavery–African American Studies–University of California, Berkeley The African American Studies Department at UC Berkeley seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor whose work demonstrates prior or potential contributions to the study of the Afterlives of Slavery. Expected start date: 07/01/2024. To apply visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF03886. This recruitment closes at 11:59 pm (PT) on 9/28/2023. For questions, contact lanihunt@berkeley.edu. UC Berkeley is an AA/EEO employer. UC Berkeley is an AA/EEO employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

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  • Victoria Grubbs Featured on Matrix Podcast

    August 17, 2023

    Victoria Netanus Grubbs, a former postdoctoral fellow at the Black Studies Collaboratory and lecturer in African American Studies, recently appeared on the Matrix podcast to discuss her research on Rwandan popular music. Featuring clips from musical artists across the country, Grubbs discusses the project of diasporic music, national identity, and resistance to state projects.    Check out the interview here: https://matrix.berkeley.edu/research-article/listening-to-rwandan-popular-music-with-victoria-netanus-grubbs/

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  • Black Graduation 2022

    January 13, 2022

    Save the date! This year Black Grad will be held on Sunday, May 22nd at 2:00pm. More details to follow. 

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  • Lecturer Pool-Department of African American Studies

    September 30, 2021

    Job #JPF03100 African Am Studies / College of Letters & Science - Social Sciences / UC Berkeley POSITION OVERVIEW Position title: Non-Senate Lecturer Salary range: Salary is dependent upon qualifications and years of college-level teaching experience. Starting minimum full-time equivalent annual academic salary is $56,945. Percent time: Positions may range from 33% to 67% time (one to two courses). Anticipated start: Applications are typically reviewed for summer session course needs in April, fall course needs in May, and in November for spring course needs. Position duration: Positions typically start at the beginning of the semester (mid-August for Fall Semester; mid-January for Spring Semester), and appointments…

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