On the top floor of Xavier Hall, a gem of diversity has found its niche in the offices of the African-American Studies Department. A series of desks, sunny windows and walls adorned with posters of famous black figures in history greet visitors to the department. The department”s certificate program at Saint Louis University includes cross-listed classes in departments such as English, communication, theology and history.
Greg Horton is the interim director of African American studies. The director, Karla Scott, is on sabbatical.
Horton said that the program broadens students” knowledge about sociological and psychological aspects of culture in addition to African American issues. He said that the program has grown in the past three years from a couple students to 20. He said that generally, the students are of many different cultures and races.
‘It”s our hope to make it not just a certificate, but a major,’ Horton said.
Dana Guyton, secretary for the department, helps with the Society of African American Studies, a student group. She coordinates events for the program and society, including events for Black History Month and Kwanzaa.
Patreece Boone, Ph.D., teaches intercultural communication, which includes studies about African-Americans. She said that her students learn how culture is imbedded in people and is a catalyst for perceiving themselves.
Marion McNabb, a senior, is working on finishing a contract major in African American studies. She explained that SLU has a policy that allows students to create a major, as long as it is modeled on programs at two other universities. McNabb used programs from Fordham University and Washington University, and she also took classes at Wash. U.
‘I”ve traveled in Africa pretty extensively and wanted to get to know its politics and history,’ she said.
McNabb lived in Zimbabwe for a year after she graduated from high school. She said that her experiences there opened her eyes and made her want to use her education to help others. McNabb said that classes in African-American studies have been helpful in showing her different aspects of the culture that she wouldn”t have known about otherwise because she is white.
‘It”s really interesting … two out of the three people doing capstone projects this year are white,’ she said.
‘There”s an immense value in all students studying (African American Studies),’ McNabb added. She said that it is worthwhile for students to examine the history of a people that has ‘long been denied’ a truthful interpretation.
Horton said that he feels there is support for the program on campus, but that most people still don”t understand what African American Studies means. He said that he believes the program would receive more support if it were a major.
SLU”s program is one of only three or four at Jesuit Universities, Horton said, but that African-American studies has been around since the “60s.
Guyton said that McNabb”s efforts toward creating the major have made it easier for other SLU students to follow in her footsteps because McNabb has done all the legwork.
Guyton also curates a small library in the department”s office, full of books and videos for students and teachers to access. Every semester, the department sends out a listing of cross-listed courses and posts all of its events on purple paper, so that their flyers will be easy to recognize. Guyton also puts together the African-American studies bulletin board on the second floor of Xavier Hall. She noted that although Black History Month is ending, every day is a celebration of black culture in the African-American studies department.
