Scholars Turn Black Studies from Resistance to Renaissance Amid Scrutiny

July 22, 2025

Scholars and artists are working to preserve African American Studies amidst increased political restrictions on teaching about race in education, as discussed during the "Black Studies Teach-In" panel hosted by Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. Participants highlighted innovative approaches including integrating Black Studies with workforce development, using Afrofuturist art to preserve cultural memory, and redesigning curricula to center Black experiences. Panelists from various universities emphasized that Black Studies are essential not only for understanding history but for all academic disciplines including philosophy, psychology, and political theory.

Who is affected

Black students, students of color, and students from historically excluded and marginalized groups
Educational institutions, particularly in Texas
Scholars and professors of African American Studies and related disciplines
The broader academic community across philosophy, psychology, communications, and other fields
Future generations seeking to understand Black history and culture
Black communities whose cultural legacies are at risk of erasure

What action is being taken

Dr. Toniesha Taylor is fusing Black Studies with workforce development through certification programs focused on racial justice and digital literacy
Anthony Suber is creating "a time machine" through Afrofuturist art that connects past, present, and future Black identity
Dr. Elizabeth Whittington is redesigning her courses to center Black experiences, incorporating works by Black authors like Clint Smith and Nikole Hannah-Jones
Scholars are actively sharing strategies for protecting and transforming Black scholarship at events like the "Black Studies Teach-In"
Texas Southern University's Center for Africana Futures is offering production payroll certification that doesn't require a college degree

Why it matters

Recent laws are transforming how Black and American history are taught and limiting institutional support for marginalized students
Without Black Studies, disciplines like philosophy, psychology and political theory remain incomplete
Erasing Black history from classrooms threatens cultural memory and identity
Racism functions as an "ideological software" that organizes reality and maintains systems of dominance
Black Studies provides necessary knowledge and understanding for all students, not just Black students
The discipline offers tools to combat historical exclusion and reshape how society organizes power
According to panelists, terminating Black Studies effectively states that Black experiences don't matter

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint