Why We Must Support African American Studies at Seton Hall

(I will use Black Studies and African American Studies interchangeable for Black / African American Studies)

First and foremost, Black Studies (African American Studies) helped me to become conscious of my African heritage. Next, Black Studies (African American Studies) inspired me to be a student activist, a respected community activist, and a longtime history teacher. During my years as a student at Seton Hall University (SHU) in the early 1990s, my colonized name was Carlos Cortez. However, the knowledge of my Black self and my love for my black culture helped to lead Black and Latino student demonstrations at Seton Hall to challenge the school's long history of institutional racism. I led movements to make Black Studies (African American Studies) a part of the core curriculum to graduate from the school. I helped to raise the Black Liberation Flag for the first time in the history of the school in spite of racist opposition by White students at Seton Hall in 1991. After I graduated from Seton Hall University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in African American studies in 1993, I became a change agent in my community and in Newark, NJ.

Before Ras Baraka became Mayor of the city of Newark, NJ, he founded the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition (NAVC). I helped brother Baraka create the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition (NAVC). The mighty NAVC shutdown intersections for 155 straight weeks all over the city to protest senseless community violence plaguing Newark. Its activism was the inspiration for Newark, NJ’s current Office of Violence and Trauma Recovery. The NAVC also forced the Newark Public Schools to adhere to New Jersey’s Amistad Law. I helped to co-write Newark’s public school Amistad Curriculum.

The Amistad law (A1301) is a educational law that requires all public schools in New Jersey to include Black history in all social studies and subject area classes (i.e., English, science, mathematics). This bill was created by two former New Jersey State African American Democratic members of the Assembly named William D. Payne and Craig A. Stanley in 2002 (https://www.nj.gov/education/amistad/about/)

The two former lawmakers named the Amistad Law after a rebellion aboard a European Spaniard slave ship named the Amistad. The revolt was led by a Mende born African named Sengbe Pieh (His European slave name was Joseph Cinque') in 1839. Pieh and the Africans ended up in America. With the help of American abolitionists, Pieh and the Africans sued for their liberation in the US Supreme Court. Pieh and the Africans won their case. They eventually returned to their freedom In Africa.

Using Black studies (African American Studies) as my guide, I have been an activist for social justice years before co-founding the NAVC 2009. I struggled along with my community to end white supremacy and institutional racism in America; fought with marginalized groups for the equality of all; fought for unity without uniformity in the Black world; struggled with community activists to free all US political prisoners and New Afrikan political prisoners of war held in American prisons; fought against police brutality in the Black community; fought for Black people to receive reparations from the US government; fought with Newark residents for the local control of the Newark Public Schools from state control; fought to save Weequahic High school in Newark, NJ from being closed by State Appointed Superintendent Cami Anderson; and organized the African American community for Black political power and self-determination.

But while being a change agent in my community, I became a school teacher. One of the most important things I have done in my life. I have been a teacher now for almost 30 years. Currently, I am teaching history and Black studies (African American Studies) at Weequahic High School in the Newark Public Schools. I have been a teacher at Weequahic for the past 20 years. Because of Black studies (African American Studies), I create culturally responsive lesson plans that incorporate African / African American history into the social studies content for my students.

With the knowledge of Black Studies, I have spent my educational career instructing students on the scientific evidence of Africa being the progenitor of humanity; on the scholarly facts of Black people initiating human civilization; educating all students on the horrors of the enslavement of African people in the western world; on the contributions Black people made to freedom and democracy; on Africa’s role in the development of the world's religions; and on Black people's quest for self-determination.

In summation, we must protect Black Studies (African American Studies). It fills in the missing pages to world and American history. The course is absolutely essential to the consciousness of people of African descent; the course helps liberate all people from white supremacist's views about Africa and Black people; and the course holistically helps with the development of humanity for a factual understanding of history. But equally important, Black Studies (African American Studies) inspires change agents for the betterment of our human society. For these reasons, I stand in solidarity with the student movement to protect African American Studies at Seton Hall. I stood with the students during their shutdown of the campus and the occupation of the President's Hall. I understand that the attacks on Black Studies (African American Studies) at Seton Hall is indicative to larger movement by white supremacy to eradicate and discredit Black History in the classrooms of America and in the world. Black Studies (African American Studies is under attack on the planet earth. As these human events unfold in our society, we must say no more disrespect to Black Studies (African American Studies). We all must stand with the student movement to protect African American Studies at Seton Hall in South Orange, NJ. We all must push Seton Hall University out of their narrow mindedness to openly stand firm behind the oldest Black Studies (African American Studies) department in New Jersey with all the resources it gives to their other departments. Seton Hall has the potential to be a leading institution of higher learning to support the quality, importance, and instruction of Black Studies (African American Studies) in the United States. Do not blow your opportunity Seton Hall University to be a beacon light for scholarship, diversity, and human rights.

Hands off African American Studies!

Hotep (Peace)!

Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele is a history and Africana Studies teacher at Weequahic High School in Newark, NJ. He is also Co-Coordinator for ASCAC 's (the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations) Study Group in Newark, NJ and a community activist.