Africana Studies

What do African diaspora and Africana Studies mean? 

People of African descent living outside of the continent are often referred to as the African diaspora. Africana has come to refer to the study of the past and present experiences of Africans and the African diaspora wherever people of African descent reside; people of African descent are found around the globe. 

At Holy Cross, the Africana Studies concentration is an interdisciplinary academic program that examines the integral role that Africans and people of African descent have played in the histories, politics, cultures, and economies all over the world, particularly in Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe. Using methods from multiple disciplines including history, sociology, literature, political science, religion, and music, students of all backgrounds gain insight into our shared past and present.