Presentation by Dr. Siri Brown, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, Merritt College, for Black Student Leadership Training.

1. Merritt College and the Black
Studies Movement:
Foundational Roots of Resistance
Say it Loud!

2. The Rise of Black Studies:

3. Discipline of Protest:
• Black Studies is a Movement…past and
present?

4. Oakland & Merritt College: 1960s

6. From Negro History to Black Studies:

9. Foundational Philosophy:
• Liberation
• Nationalism
• Community
Organizing
• Pan Africanism

10. Vision for Liberation:
• K-12
• Black University
• Original Curriculum
– Course Offerings reflect the needs and interest of
the people…not the academic

11. Black, African American, Africana,
Ethnic Studies Today:
Judge upholds Arizona law banning ethnic
studies classes
• March 12, 2013|
• Los Angeles Tines:
• TUCSON — An Arizona law that put an end to ethnic studies courses
in Tucson schools has been largely upheld as constitutional by a
federal judge, but supporters of the program say their legal fight to
restore the program will continue.
• U.S. Circuit Court Judge Wallace Tashima on Friday found most of
the law that bans public schools from teaching certain race-related
courses, such as Mexican American studies, constitutional with one
small exception. Tashima ruled that the portion of the law that
prohibits courses designed for certain ethnic groups was
unconstitutionally vague.

12. The Role of Africana/Black Studies at
University:
Merritt African American Studies

13. What Every Student Organization Must
Know about Your University:
• Build your support with staff and faculty on
campus
• Know the leadership and which positions they
hold
• Know your by-laws!
• Know your budget…$$$ and where the money
goes
• Be connected with your Black/Africana…Studies
Department. Support your department.