
The African American Studies and Research Program is a multidisciplinary unit at the University of Kentucky that seeks to promote the interest and knowledge of the African diaspora experience through quality teaching, research, and service. Program faculty and students conduct research on the implications of race, class, gender, culture, politics, and law incident to people of African descent. The curriculum is aimed at providing students with a fundamental and diverse understanding of the African diaspora. Because of its multidisciplinary approach, the Program provides opportunities for faculty and students to gain service-learning experiences within the local, Commonwealth, and global communities.


Sonja Feist-Price
LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 2010) −Welcome to the African American Studies and Research Program!
The academic year is off to an excellent start with exciting courses, quality campus and community programming, and enhanced recruiting efforts.
This year’s Carter G. Woodson Lecture Series began with presentations from Professor Frank X Walker (I Dedicate This Ride: The Making of Isaac Murphy) and Dr. Vershawn Young (Your Average Nigga), both of whom are outstanding scholars in University of Kentucky’s English Department. Our video dialogue on race, Sisters in the Struggle, is sure to be a major highlight this fall and explores the various roles of Kentucky women in the civil rights movement using oral history. This event is co-sponsored with Gender and Women’s Studies, Martin Luther King Cultural Center, and the History 351 course. These video dialogues also afford us the opportunity to hear from experts and pioneers from this era.
Our community partnerships are evolving to include a collaborative partnership with the Lyric Theater and Cultural Center by offering a monthly lecture series. This partnership will bring the academy to the community by allowing UK faculty to share their scholarship and expertise, and allow the community to inform their research practices.
Plans for our 17th Annual Black Women’s Conference are currently underway and will focus on civil rights and activism in the 21st century. More information on this year’s conference is soon to follow. Dates for this year’s conference are March 19th, 23rd and 24th.
AASRP’s 2nd bi-annual call for grant proposal is currently underway. Faculty members are encouraged to submit proposals regarding issues of critical importance to African Americans and the African Diaspora.
The future of AASRP is bold and bright, and we encourage you to join us on this exciting and rewarding odyssey. |