Department of African American Studies

College of Humanities and Sciences

Current StudentsGive

Events

AFAM Student Government Friendsgiving

The AFAM Student Government is hosting Friendsgiving at Gabriel's House! Come and enjoy soul food, games, and community!

Event Details

When: November 20, 2024, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Gabriel's House, 816 W. Franklin St, Richmond, VA

Flyer for the 2024 AFAM Student Government Friendsgiving, held at 816 West Franklin Street November 2th 6-8pm

Black Studies: An Intellectual Genealogy

Come out and learn about the origin of Black Studies!

How did the Black experience become a University major? Learn about the struggle and triumph that produced Black Studies, African American Studies, and Africana Studies from leading figures in the discipline and movements that shaped it.

Film by Shawn Utsey.

Event Details

When: November 19, 2024, 2-4 p.m.
Where: University Student Commons Theater, 907 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA

The flyer for the Black Studies: An Intellectual Genealogy documentary, created by Shawn Utsey

AFAM Student Government Mixer

Looking for a place to connect with other Black and AFAM students?


Join us on Wednesday, Oct 2nd for the first AFAMSG event!


Everyone is welcome to come to the Black Student Mixer and share your ideas as we prepare for the rest of school year and get to know the AFAM community!


Look forward to seeing you all there!

Event details

October 2, 2024, 6:30-9 p.m.
Gabriel's House, 816 W Franklin St.

Flyer for the AFAMSG Black Student Mixer, held 10-2-24 in Gabriel's House, 816 W Franklin St.

VCU Black Alumni Council Sankofa Pinning Ceremony

Join the Black Alumni Council for the second annual Sankofa Pinning Ceremony, where alumni, students, and the VCU community gather to celebrate remembrance, reflection, and growth. Sankofa, an expression in the Twi language of Ghana whose literal meaning is “Go back and get it!” embodies the spirit and attitude of reverence for our past, our forebears, our history, and our elders.

Also, come meet representatives from organizations dedicated to empowering Black students at VCU, including the Department of African American Studies, Black Education Association, and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. Register to attend in person or virtually.

A reception will follow the event. The event is in-person and on Zoom.

To register, click this link.

Questions? Contact Robert Chisley (B.S.’14, M.S.L.’19), director of Black and African American initiatives, Inclusive Excellence and Philanthropy, at chisleyrl@vcu.edu.

Event details

September 28, 2024, 3-5 p.m.
University Student Commons, Richmond Salons

Flyer for the VCU Black Alumni Council Sankofa Pinning Ceremony

Back to School Block Party

Join the African American Studies department for our Back to School Block Party! The event will be held at the University Commons Plaza on September 10th from 12-2pm. Food will be provided, music will be played from 12-1pm.

Event details

September 10, 2024, 12-2 p.m.
University Student Commons, Commons Plaza
Open to all students

Informational flyer for AFAM's Back to School Block Party, held on September 10th 2024.

Medicine, Marginalization and Resistance: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

Join us for a roundtable discussion of medicine, marginalization and resistance with the HRC’s residential fellows Grace Gipson, Adin Lears, Gabriela León-Pérez and Victoria Tucker. The fellows will discuss their work during their 2023-24 residency, exploring health humanities topics ranging from Black womanhood and disability in Marvel Comics’ Misty Knight, conceptions of medicine and the body in late medieval England, the health and well-being of Indigenous immigrants from Latin America to the US, and the experiences and contributions of Black nurses in Virginia during the transition from segregation to desegregation. The presentations will be followed by a panel Q&A.

Event details

March 12, 2024, 3-4:30 p.m.
University Student Commons, Virginia Room B
Register here 

Medicine, Marginalization and Resistance

Black History in the Making

The Black History in the Making Awards recognize and celebrate the achievements of African American students at VCU. Our 2024 recipients were announced in February and celebrated at an award ceremony and reception on February 28. The keynote speaker was be two-time VCU graduate and chief diversity officer with the U.S. House of Representatives at the United States Congress Dr. Sesha Joi Moon.

Event Videos

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