The Department of African American Studies is a meeting ground for scholars, students and thinkers committed to the study of African American and African-descended peoples in the Americas. With faculty trained in anthropology, English, history, philosophy, and other disciplines, our collective work fosters critical understanding of the diaspora’s many cultures and expressions. As we foster meaningful engagement with the economic, social and political conditions of black life on campus and beyond, we seek to build a vibrant community of inquiry and innovation at Penn State.