Mission Statement

The City University of New York (CUNY) reestablished the Black Studies Department at The City College of New York (CCNY) on July 1, 2024.

Check out the 2023 - 2024 Black Studies Annual Report

Located in Harlem, New York, as one of the oldest Black Studies initiatives in the United States, Black Studies (BLST) is concerned with the African, African-American, and the global African diaspora communities, with a special focus on transnational perspectives in relation to the U.S. and the Black world.

Black Studies expects to review a Bachelor's Degree to majors who have attained a working knowledge of the main theories events and/or issues related with:

• The history, sociocultural dynamics, and problems and possibilities in the Black world
• Theories of oppression based on race, color, socioeconomic class, gender, and sexuality along with their interrelationships, as well as practical ways to struggle against types of oppression.
• The history and future of science and technology originating inside and outside of the Black world
• The political economics of Black world societies in the global context 
• The history of Black achievement
• The history and creative output of black peoples in the literary, visual, musical, and performing arts.

​​​With these outcomes, our mission is twofold:

• To provide an intellectual setting in which students from Black Studies can grow and develop into productive lifelong learners, citizens, and activists seeking to improve their communities, their nations, and the world
• To provide an intellectual setting in which students from all communities can gain knowledge of the Black world, assisting in their development into productive, lifelong learners, citizens, and activists seeking to improve their communities, their nations, and the world.

We proudly participate in serving the Langston Hughes Festival, The Chinua Achebe Lecture Series and the Black Studies Speakers Series.

Donate to the Black Studies Scholarship Fund 

We welcome your donations to the Black Studies Scholarship Fund. Established in 2007, this scholarship supports students interested in studying Black Studies. Gifts to this fund will provide support for tuition fee, books, and expenses related to the cost of attending CCNY and are tax deductible to the amount allowed by the law.

Donate to the Black Studies Department General Fund

Donations to the newly established Black Studies Department General Fund will aid in the establishment of the new Black Studies offices, expansion of faculty research, and in the creation of departmental initiatives. Support of this fund will advance the work of the entire Department.