The Survey on Issues in Africana Studies: A First Report

Abstract

This article analyzes the findings of the Survey on Issues in Africana Studies, which collected data on the attitudes, backgrounds, perceptions, social contacts, and pedagogical practices of African-American/Africana Studies professors. Using responses from 221 participants, the study reveals that Africana Studies professors view their programs as well-established within universities, with stable enrollments and increasing faculty sizes. The discipline is characterized by a balanced gender distribution and politically liberal leanings. Respondents agreed that Africana Studies has its own research tools and core ideas, and there was consensus on integrating African-American Studies into a broader African Diaspora Studies field. However, opinions varied on undergraduate student involvement in departmental decision-making. Notably, W.E.B. Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk emerged as the only nearly unanimous canonical text in the field. This work investigates the evolving identity and institutional position of Africana Studies within American academia, providing empirical data to inform future research and administrative decisions.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)