Rebuilding Harvard's African Studies Dept

NYTimes.com ^ | July 17, 2003

[laweeks]

I'm sure the studies will include an unbiased history of the Africans selling Africans into slavery. And I'm sure an in-depth analysis of how countries like Ethiopia went from being a leading grain exporting nation before communist takeover in 1973 to one of the poorest nations on earth. And I'm sure a critical study of the horrors that are in the Sudan will be forthcoming. I'm sure.

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[meandog]

Main language of an employed person holding a degree in African Studies: Do you want fries with that?

[DeFault User]

one of the country's leading experts on hip-hop

at Harvard

I'm not sure where the bottom is but we must be near it.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

His recruits also include a linguistic anthropologist who is one of the country's leading experts on hip-hop. Hip-hop had figured in the turmoil in Professor Gates's department, with Cornel West, one of the stars to leave Harvard, complaining that Mr. Summers had, among other things, been critical of his recording of a hip-hop CD entitled "Sketches of My Culture."

You mean to tell me that Harvard doesn't yet have a separate major in Hip-Hop? And they dare to call themselves a leading university?

[sine_nomine]

How about "The Arab Slavers, Then and Now"? That would make a good course.

[sine_nomine]

How about "The Arab Slavers, Then and Now"? That would make a good course.

[truth_seeker]

"As an associate professor, Ms. Morgan will teach classes on hip-hop and linguistics and be the director of the hip-hop archives, which includes T-shirts, videotapes of the early hip-hop artists practicing their art in basements in the Bronx and an extensive collection of CD's by rappers like Tupac Shakur and Public Enemy."

If I was black, I would be embarrased that hip-hop is being elevated as a symbol of "Africanism."

To me it comes closer to being a symbol of inner-city criminality.

If there was a need or justification for a department of African studies, there are many more historically relevant areas for study, than 20th century popular music and dance, which are more elements of north America. Not Africa.

To be fair, I am interested in how my Viking ancestors danced? Can you picture the "Nordic Shuffle?"

It musta been hard to look Really KULE dancing with those horns on their hats.

[dennisw]

What a load from the welfare bums of academia. And I'm not just talking about Black Studies. Mao Tse Tung had it right when he forced profs and intellectuals out into the fields to hoe cabbages for a few years.

Academia needs hard sciences, engineering, serious liberal arts, not jive talking "studies" departments with their jive taking Cornel Wests

[dennisw]

Does Harvard have a Latino Studies Department? They're the largest minority now. Where's the respect?

[DEPUTYMAYTAG]

Who gives a shiite!

[somedaysoon]

I can think of a lot of words to describe Cornel West but "star" certainly isn't one of them. Wonder what he would be doing now had he been born white.

[farmfriend]

ping

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

You mean to tell me that Harvard doesn't yet have a separate major in Hip-Hop...

Shows what you know.

I'm currently working on my dissertation (and of course, the related research/statistical analysis!) so that I may complete the departmental requirements needed in order to be awarded a Doctorate in Hip-Hop Studies

Heehee...

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The African linguist won't last long - his field of expertise is useful and a legitimate study in lingual development, thus he won't fit in.

If someone were to start a real African Studies department that devoted itself to language, cultural studies, religious studies, economics, politics, geology and geography, that would be of benefit. Unfortunately, the curricula don't reflect that.

[DeFault User]

to be awarded a Doctorate in Hip-Hop Studies

You're going for a PhD? Must be one of those Piled Higher & Deeper degrees! (BS=BS); (MS=More of the Same); (PhD=Piled Higher & Deeper)

[Tacis]

What's the big deal about rebuilding any African Studies program? All you need is some folks from the ghetto with attitude who know that, no matter how bad things have evr been or will ever be, it is and always has been, whitey's fault. The brother will get into the program by affirmative action and get through it the same way. Whites can be admitted into the program if they speak, read, and write all of those 2000+ African languages, blacks qualify on the basis of life experience.

Can you imagine the outrage, especially from ultra left-wing but tenured academics, if a university started a "European Studies" department/program and the key requirement for admission, completion, or teaching was to have white skin? The only purpose/use of an African studies program is to perpetuate black racism. This would be the case even if the university taught the truth and not just the racist ramblings of black faculty who couldn't get jobs in real departments because they were either too dumb or would have to work too hard to get them.

[Cdnexpat]

"Main language of an employed person holding a degree in African Studies: Do you want fries with that?"


I think you are mistaken, I'd say their main phrase is: "Hello, State Department".

[Hacksaw]

I think this is a bad idea. As part of a history degree, I had to take several courses outside my main field of study (American History). It seems if I tooke a course in African History at Harvard, I would also get a political re-education attempt.