UMass Amherst AfroAm

09/01/2026

This is why We are Afro-American Studies.

08/27/2026

Shout out to Watch The Yardfor the feature. I’m truly humbled and grateful to be recognized in a space that has become such an important chronicler of Black college culture and the Divine Nine.

In this article, they talk about my faith, my fight for justice, and my fraternal life. That really does tell the story.

There is no contradiction between my faith and my fight for justice. My faith demands that I pursue justice. And there is no contradiction between either of those and my fraternal life. Brotherhood, service, scholarship, leadership, and lifting our people are all part of the same calling.

I don’t have to compartmentalize who I am.

I can be a preacher and a protester.
A bishop and a brother.
Committed to the Gospel and committed to justice.
Firm in my faith and proud of my fraternity.

Faith. Fight. Fraternity.
Different expressions. Same commitment to service.

Thank you, Watch The Yard, for telling a piece of my story. 🤎✊🏾

Talbert Swan

08/26/2026

New semester blessings to our colleagues at Amherst College!

This is us! We are your Black Studies Department at Amherst College. Welcome Freshman & Welcome Back Upperclassmen!

08/26/2026

Harvard University spent years researching a Hingham woman’s genealogy without her knowledge.

They discovered she is a descendant of a man who had been enslaved by a member of Harvard’s Board of Overseers. A Globe reporter told her the news. https://trib.al/vr239SJ

08/25/2026

The Doctor

08/25/2026

As we gear up for ASALH’s 111th Annual Meeting & Conference in Norfolk, Virginia, this September, we’re highlighting some of the people, places, and movements that have shaped Black history in the region.

In 1865, just weeks after the Civil War, more than 500 Black residents gathered at Bute Street Methodist Church to organize around the right to vote. The gathering eventually grew to more than 1,000 people. Weeks later, Black citizens met at Catharine Street Baptist Church and issued an Equal Suffrage Address, demanding full citizenship and voting rights. Their demands reached beyond Norfolk, circulating outside Virginia and contributing to the broader struggle for Black political equality.

This tradition of resistance extended into education, economic opportunity, legal protection, and community development as Black Norfolk residents used petitions, organizations, newspapers, churches, and elected representatives to shape their lives as free citizens.

Follow along as we explore Black resistance, resilience, and history in Norfolk leading up to our 2026 Annual Meeting & Conference.

08/25/2026

Now Open: NCBS 2027 All Academic Portal. Conference registration is increasing for the 2027 conference, but MEMBERS can secure 2026 rate during Member's ONLY Early -Bird registration. You must be logged into your NCBS account (username or email) to access the discount. If you have any difficulty email [email protected] - https://mailchi.mp/ncbsonline/alf7035qdf-10361295

08/25/2026

FYI. The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and the Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (LEJA) are holding their third annual Afro-Latino Short Film Competition. They are looking for submissions. (No fee) The deadline is Friday, August 21. Films can be up to 30 minutes in length. https://filmfreeway.com/AAFCAAfro-LatinoShortFilmCompetition

The festival will take place on October 10.