Pan African Studies Department Celebrates Anniversary
The group, Capoeira Angola, perform during last years’ Department of Pan Anniversary Studies anniversary event. Capoeira is an African-Brazilian martial art disguised as dance, and performed to the music of the musical bow known as the berimbau. This year’s anniversary will be celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2.
The Department of Pan African Studies will celebrate its 43rd anniversary on Nov. 1 and 2 with a faculty-student dialogue and an evening gala.
The event, which is co-sponsored by California State University, Northridge’s Black Student Union and the Black Alumni Association, will include a faculty-student dialogue on Nov. 1 from 12 to 2 p.m. in Sierra Hall, Whitsett Room 451.
On Nov. 2, the department will host a reception from 5 to 6 p.m., and the program will begin at 6 p.m. in the University Student Union’s Grand Salon. The evening will feature a poetry reading by James Golden ’07 (Pan African Studies), MPA ’09 (Political Science), who won the 2012 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in the poetry category for his book “Afro Clouds & Nappy Rain.” Golden published his first book, “Sweet Potato Pie Underneath The Sun’s Broiler,” in 2008 as an expansion of his CSUN senior thesis.
“This is an opportunity for us to reflect and celebrate our history, legacy and accomplishments,” said Karin Stanford, chair of Pan African Studies department.
The event also will celebrate the university’s successful African-American alumni.
“Thousands of CSUN’s African-American alumni have graduated and achieved great success in their respective fields,” said Shanté Morgan-Durisseau ’90 (Journalism/Afro-American Studies) and president of CSUN’s Black Alumni Association. “We’re so happy the Department of Pan African Studies has chosen to use this occasion to recognize our success.”
Today, the Department of Pan African Studies is one of the oldest and largest degree granting black studies programs in the nation. CSUN was one of the first universities to establish a black studies program, opening its doors in 1969. The department has produced thousands of graduates who are working in a variety of disciplines, including education, social work, law and media communications.
For more information about the event, contact the Department of Pan African Studies at (818) 677-3311.
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