Connor J. Misko
Contributing Writer
Black studies is a new minor track now offered by the Department of Political Science and Economics at ESU. The Black studies minor gives students a unique viewpoint into the struggles and rich culture of those with African descent both historically and currently.
“We’ve tried several times to get this minor approved, but have failed for the last 20 years,” said Samuel Quainoo, Department Chair of Political Science and Economics and professor in an interview.
However, after many different opinions on the matter were presented, the minor was finally approved.
“The reason was because the composition of our student population is changing,” Quainoo said. “Right now in 2024, black and brown students are about 50 percent of the population. It’s not just here at ESU. The United States population is changing–it’s a global phenomenon, because of globalization.”
The Black studies minor aims to expose students to groups and cultures that historically have not been studied. The minor track consists of 18 total credits and offers two completely new courses: BLS 100 (introduction to Black studies) and BLS 495 (Black studies research seminar).
The minor also includes a study abroad opportunity where students will get to go to Ghana. A trip by faculty and staff to speak about study-abroad opportunities was recently covered by the Stroud Courier in this article.
The rest of the minor consists of pre-existing courses, including classes within political science, history, English, philosophy, communications, sociology and psychology. “We selected the courses that speak to the issues of Black and Brown students,” Quainoo said.
However, The Black studies minor is not just for black and brown students. Students from any background will find value in the curriculum. “The more we learn about each other, the better we understand each other,” Quainoo stated. “And that is a way of removing the fear of the unknown.”
“Society is evolving into a multiracial society,” he added. “I think the more we study about other groups of people, the better it is for us.”
“75 percent of the world’s population lives outside North America and Europe,” Quainoo continued. “Most of ESU’s courses have been concentrated in our area. I think, given how society is evolving now, we should learn about all other groups and their struggles throughout history.”
The Black studies minor can also be beneficial for a wide variety of majors and career paths. Students can utilize the knowledge and skills learned within the program to understand racial equity and make contributions to a multi-ethnic society.
“Wherever you are employed, you are going to have colleagues with different cultures and different histories. If you know more about them, it is much easier to work with these people,” Quainoo said. “The minor also will make your degree more marketable. Companies want to hire people who are well informed, broad-minded and who have traveled.”
English major Philip Dua-Adonteng, voiced his opinion on the effectiveness that Black studies could have for students at ESU:
“With the way the education system is set up, especially here in America, we don’t get to have the opportunity to learn too much about other cultures or countries. Most of our education surrounding history is really fixated on just America. It’s good to highlight how other countries have contributed to political movements in America, or how America has influenced other countries.”