Africana Studies at Penn

Today is a "double-feature" kind of day. Come see Kiriana Dube talks about the "Gendered Dimensions of Climate Change" at 12 noon (tinyurl.com/kdube-penn25), and come see Josslyn Luckett tell the story of "Multiracial Media Activism Made in L.A." at 5:30pm (tinyurl.com/luckett-penn25). 🌧 🎥

#africa #america #zimbabwe #losangeles #doublefeature #today #women #scholars #film #climatechange #movies

6 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

Africana Studies at Penn

Have you heard of “A Dance of the Forests”? “A Dance of the Forests” is a play written by famed Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka, created in 1960 for the celebration of Nigeria’s independence. The play itself is regarded as a pointed and poignant exploration of Nigeria’s storied past and its trajectory as an independent nation.

#nigeria #independence #wolesoyinka #play #theatre

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 3

Africana Studies at Penn

Dr. Ala Stanford, Penn Professor of the Practice of Biology, has just made a big announcement. Are you excited for Dr. Stanford’s run for Congress?

Read here: www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/doctor-ala-s…

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 6

Africana Studies at Penn

There are so many urgent issues to tackle in our society—especially when it comes to the Black experience. One that often doesn’t get amplified enough is climate justice.

The article below tackles this overlooked conversation. We’d love to hear your thoughts:
wordinblack.com/2025/08/industrial-heat-pumps-coul…

How significant do you think these problems are for you and your community?

1 month ago | [YT] | 9

Africana Studies at Penn

We take time to mourn the passing and remember the life of Danielle Spencer. She is best known for her iconic role on “What’s Happening” as kid sister Dee, whose combination of wit and confidence was an inalienable element of the trailblazing 1970s sitcom. At the age of 12, she overcame the personal tragedy of suffering a car accident that took the life of her stepfather and had her in a coma for weeks. The incident would be the reason for several surgeries throughout her life, but she kept performing in the show until its end. Spencer went on to study at Tuskegee University and obtained her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1993, becoming a professional veterinarian. As an adult, she advocated for animal rights and advocated for breast cancer awareness after her own diagnosis. In 2016, She was honored with a permanent exhibit by the National Museum of African American History and Culture as the “first pre-teen African American female in a sitcom”. Danielle Spencer was a woman of great perseverance, great legacy, and a heart of kindness. We send our condolences and comfort to her family.

2 months ago | [YT] | 97

Africana Studies at Penn

#blackhistorypoll - David Walker (1789–1830) was born free in North Carolina and is best known for his fiery 1829 pamphlet, An Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World. In it, he directly challenged the racist claims in Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia, uplifted the greatness of African history, and boldly called for resistance against slavery.

Walker wrote his Appeal while living in Boston, but before that, he lived in Charleston, South Carolina—at the same time Denmark Vesey was organizing his 1822 rebellion. Some historians believe Walker may have been involved in the planning. Could Walker have played a role in Vesey’s plot? Let us know 👇🏾

2 months ago | [YT] | 3

Africana Studies at Penn

Captain Theresa Claiborne was the first female African-American pilot in the United States Air Force. Claiborne joined ROTC during her time at California State University, Sacramento, which sparked her interest in becoming a pilot. Her first time being commissioned to fly in the USAF came in 1981, which cemented her name in history as the very first Black woman to do so. By the time Captain Claiborne retired from the military in 2003, she had logged over 3,000 military flight hours. Following her career with the USAF, she flew for United Airlines for 34 years before retiring on May 29, 2024.

#funfactfriday #captclaiborne #captain #pilot #blackpilots #blackwomen #women #firsts #flight #planes #africanastudies #upenn

1 year ago | [YT] | 2

Africana Studies at Penn

Meet the 2024 Summer Institute faculty! Today, we are happy to introduce you to David Amponsah, Presidential Assistant Professor of Africana Studies.
The Center for Africana Studies Summer Institute is one of Penn’s premier Pre-First Year Student programs. This intensive one-week course of study is taught by standing Penn faculty and exposes students to major intellectual and cultural themes and currents in 19th, 20th, and 21st century African and African Diaspora studies. Apply today! tinyurl.com/africanaupenn-si

#davidamponsah #meetthefaculty #classes #education #blackmen #africa #literature #writing #fiction #authors #prefirstyear #summer #students #weeklong #free #upenn #africanastudies

1 year ago | [YT] | 2

Africana Studies at Penn

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision, in which the US Supreme Court ruled that state-sponsored segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. In truth, Brown v. Board was the consolidation of five related cases against the constitutionality of segregation, argued by Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court. Ruling in favor of the plaintiff, Justice Earl Warren delivered the court’s unanimous decision including the following statement: "We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. . ."
Image Credit: Carl Iwasaki/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images

#brownvboard #education #anniversary #desegregation #supremecourt #ruling #70years #blackhistory #africanastudies #upenn

1 year ago | [YT] | 2

Africana Studies at Penn

In the late 1860s, during the height of the Reconstruction Era, Frederick Douglass toured the country delivering a speech titled “Composite Nation.” In his lecture, Douglass expressed his ideas about an ideal nation in which prejudice was eradicated. Douglass shared explicit support for immigration from East Asia, a concept that was greatly rejected by most politicians and citizens. In his speech, Douglass writes “There are such things in the world as human rights. They rest upon no conventional foundation, but are external, universal, and indestructible. Among these, is the right of locomotion; the right of migration; the right which belongs to no particular race, but belongs alike to all and to all alike… It is this great right that I assert for the Chinese and the Japanese, and for all other varieties of men equally with yourselves, now and forever.”

#funfactfriday #frederickdouglass #black #asian #aapiheritagemonth #immigration #humanrights #reconstruction #africanastudies #upenn

1 year ago | [YT] | 2