In 1968, the nation’s first African American studies major was developed at San Francisco State University after an uproarious outcry from students and school. 54 years later, historically Black university Prairie View A&M University is following suit.

In a news release, it was announced that the 146-year-old institution will offer students the choice to major or minor in African American studies starting this fall.

“An element of the HBCU experience for a lot of students is a journey to self-identification, Blackness, and trying to know the Black experience higher,” said Director and Associate Professor of AAS Jeanelle Hope, Ph.D in a news release. “It [African American Studies] provides students with the language to know the world around them and a possibility to have interaction key theories, concepts and methods that seek to make sense of the Black experience and amplify our narratives.” 

The brand new program comes by means of a $1 million initiative, Enhancing the Humanities at PVAMU, and partial funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, an anonymous contribution, and an identical grant, in keeping with the news release.

The Bachelor of Arts program is aimed toward equipping students with culturally competent tools to effectively communicate, think critically about and examine any field of labor they enterprise into.