The Future of Africana Studies

On Oct. 12, 2024, scholars and community members gathered for the inaugural James. E. Newton Symposium, a partnership between UD's Department of Africana Studies and the Wilmington Public Library (WPL). "The Future of Africana Studies" brought together prominent scholars in the field to discuss issues including Black feminism and agency.

The event marks an important moment for the department, whose mission includes connecting to the local community, and is the first collaboration in what is hoped to be an ongoing partnership between the two institutions.

"Africana Studies has long been a leader in community engagement at UD, and the partnership with the Wilmington Library creates exciting opportunities for the department to further share and expand its educational and scholarly connections," said Wendy Bellion, associate dean for the humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences.

"Dr. Newton, a founder of our department, was devoted to eliminating barriers between higher education and the community it's intended to serve," added Kimberly Blockett, chair of the Department of Africana Studies. "The department strives to strengthen our connections to Black Delawareans."

Alicia Fontnette, assistant professor of Africana studies and director of the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS), which is headquartered at UD, explained that active community partnership is essential to allowing faculty to address the needs and concerns of the people they are studying, contributing to social change by applying research to real-world issues in the community.

"This practice is essentially what we are grounded in daily," she said. "To truly engage in Africana, is to ground ourselves in the study of the experiences and lived realities that foster a deeper understanding."

Serving the community

The Wilmington Public Library was established in the 1700s, and it serves as a community center for the city's population, which is 70% people of color. WPL executive director Jamar Rahming explained that many of the library's constituents have never left the city limits, making it paramount for the library to bring culture to them.

"We try to bring as many celebrity and pop cultural icons as possible so working-class people in the city can have these cosmopolitan experiences," Rahming said.

WPL has brought prominent Black Americans to Delaware, including Levar Burton, Rick Slick Caruso, Felicia Rashad, Omari Hardwick, Angela Davis, Misty Copeland and Cornel West. In 2022 WPL was honored with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service for its dynamic programming and community engagement.