UAB African-American Studies Head Talks About Program

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) African-American Studies Program annual open house event, “Talking Books,” offered students the opportunity to learn about the program’s curriculum and meet its faculty and staff.


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) African-American Studies Program annual open house event, "Talking Books," offered students the opportunity to learn about the program's curriculum and meet its faculty and staff.

The name of the event is a metaphor for the blending of African American oral tradition with the Euro-American written tradition and comes from the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano, who published his life story, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.

For those who weren't able to attend the late September event, this video with Interim Director Jacqueline E. Wood, Ph.D., offers some insight into the program.

UAB African-American Studies

UAB African-American Studies is a multidisciplinary program that is built on expertise in a variety of areas, including history, political science, literature, music, sociology, public health and foreign language.

"What makes our program unique is that students can taka a broad range of courses - from English and government to public health," Wood said. "So, our students can earn a degree in African-American Studies with a social, behavioral or a cultural emphasis."

In addition, students in the program can apply for internships at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and they can study abroad in places like Ghana, South Africa, Liverpool, England and the West Indies through UAB Study Away.

Since the UAB African-American Studies Program began offering a bachelor's degree in 2001, graduates have gone on to careers as researchers and program specialists with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, diversity trainers, community health educators, teachers and social workers. One graduate is working as a news correspondent for a local television station. Several others are enrolled in graduate school to study African-American Studies, community health education and public health.

For more information about the UAB African-American Studies Program, visit the Web site at www.uab.edu/cas/africanamericanstudies or call 205-975-9652.