Word: afro
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 2000-2009
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...perception that Summers did not sufficiently value diversity escalated after comments he reportedly made to students whom met him to advocate for a Latino studies department. According to students at the meeting, Summers defended the Afro-American studies department because of the centrality of the issue of slavery to the Civil War and voiced skepticism about creating departments for students to study their own ethnicity—a position that thoroughly underestimates the value of the Afro-American studies department. The students who attended the meeting said Summers appeared to be uninterested in their petition and resisted responding in writing...
...Neil L. Rudenstine’s greatest legacies as president of Harvard was the revitalization of the Afro-American studies department. By taking a personal interest in recruiting people like DuBois Professor of the Humanities Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr., former Carswell professor of Afro-American studies and of philosophy K. Anthony Appiah and Fletcher University Professor Cornel R. West ’74, Rudenstine did more than assemble a “dream team” of scholars—he sent the clear message that diversity was a high priority for the University...
Summers tried to combat the perception that he is not sufficiently pro-diversity by releasing a statement on diversity and reiterating his commitment to the Afro-American Studies department. But the departures of West and Appiah for Princeton have weakened the department—and though Gates says he will stay for another year, he has not made his final decision. However, even more damaging to Summers’ credentials on diversity has been his refusal to endorse an ethnic studies department in the face of increasing student pressure...
...Princeton, with these two appointments, in addition to the excellent faculty they already have...has overnight become a powerhouse in Afro-American studies,” Gates said...
...What I have to figure out is if I can live without Anthony Appiah, and only time will tell,” he said, referring to an Afro-American studies colleague who announced earlier this year he would leave for Princeton...