Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture: The Climate Justice Equation: Science, Health, and Your Role in the Solution
In this lecture in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Kathi Earles will use her medical training and health disparities research to illuminate the environmental impacts of global warming and their impact on Black and Brown communities.
Congratulations to Dr. Alyssa P. Cole: Recipient of the 2026 Humanities Scholarship Enhancement Fund
AFAM proudly celebrates Dr. Cole, recipient of the CLAS 2026 Humanities Scholarship Enhancement Fund. This award supports Dr. Cole’s groundbreaking research in Black women's health practices advancing critical conversations on race, medicine, and innovation. Her achievement reflects the AFAM's commitment to excellence and innovation in the humanities.
Community Event - Holocaust Education: From Swastika to Jim Crow
Film and panel discussion about the Jewish refugee scholars who taught at HBCUs in the South, during World War II. Panelist include Mayor Harvey Ward, Dr. Warren Goldstein, Dr. Rik Stevenson, and Dr. Norman Goda.
Afrofuturism Week 2026
Step into a celebration of Black imagination and visionary futures during Afrofuturism Week 2026, held January 22–31 at the University of Florida. Experience a vibrant mix of lectures, art, music, storytelling, and a spectacular fashion‑forward finale—all exploring the power of Black creativity and speculative thought. [arts.ufl.edu] Join UF and community partners for a week of bold ideas, inspiring performances, and collective dreaming. All are welcome.
Welcome to African American Studies
The African American Studies Program at the University of Florida provides a critical multi-disciplinary examination of African American experiences and perspectives. Read more.
Leadership Rooted in Scholarship, Vision, and Community
Riché J. Daniel Barnes Named Director
Riche J. Daniel Barnes steps into leadership with a deep commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship, Black feminist thought, and transformative pedagogy. As a cultural anthropologist and public intellectual, her vision for African American Studies centers community, cultivates critical inquiry, and expands the department’s reach across campus and beyond.
Read MoreIn the News
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture: The Climate Justice Equation: Science, Health, and Your Role in the Solution
In this lecture in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Kathi Earles will use her medical training and health disparities research to illuminate the environmental impacts of global warming and their impact on Black and Brown communities.
Afrofuturism Week 2026
Step into a celebration of Black imagination and visionary futures during Afrofuturism Week 2026, held January 22–31 at the University of Florida. Experience a vibrant mix of lectures, art, music, storytelling, and a spectacular fashion‑forward finale—all exploring the power of Black creativity and speculative thought. [arts.ufl.edu] Join UF and community partners for a week of bold ideas, inspiring performances, and collective dreaming. All are welcome.
Community Event – Holocaust Education: From Swastika to Jim Crow
Film and panel discussion about the Jewish refugee scholars who taught at HBCUs in the South, during World War II. Panelist include Mayor Harvey Ward, Dr. Warren Goldstein, Dr. Rik Stevenson, and Dr. Norman Goda.
Congratulations to Dr. Alyssa P. Cole: Recipient of the 2026 Humanities Scholarship Enhancement Fund
AFAM proudly celebrates Dr. Cole, recipient of the CLAS 2026 Humanities Scholarship Enhancement Fund. This award supports Dr. Cole’s groundbreaking research in Black women’s health practices advancing critical conversations on race, medicine, and innovation. Her achievement reflects the AFAM’s commitment to excellence and innovation in the humanities.
AFAM has strong presence at ASALH 2025
The African American Studies Program was well represented at the 2025 Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) conference.
DMC Writing Retreat
The Digital Media and Community Initiative welcomed scholars from the DISCO Network and across UF for a week-long writing retreat focused on Black digital studies, abolitionist media, and community-centered scholarship. Held July 26–August 3, the retreat featured interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty from Colgate, Maryland, Georgia Tech, and UF’s African American Studies, Journalism, and Computer Science departments.
Leadership Rooted in Scholarship, Vision, and Community
We are proud to welcome Dr. Riché J. Daniel Barnes as the new Director of AFAM at the University of Florida!
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Courtney Moore Taylor Publishes Groundbreaking Research in Journal of Southern History
AFAM celebrates Dr. Courtney Moore Taylor’s latest article, “A Badge of Slavery: Clothing and Enslaved Teenage Girls’ Identity Formation.”