Faculty and Staff
Department Chair and Advisor
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Academic specialties/ Area of interest:
- Black/Africana Studies theory and history
- Africana (continental and diasporan) philosophy
- Maatian ethics (Ancient Egyptian)
- Ifa ethics (Ancient Yoruba)
- African American intellectual history and social thought
- Ethnic Studies
- The socio-ethical thought of Malcolm X
- Swahili language and literature
Publications
Books
- Kawaida and Questions of Life and Struggle, 2008 (Best Book in Activist Scholarship 2009鈥擳he Diopian Institute Award for Excellence in Scholarship)
- Maat, The Moral Ideal in Ancient Egypt: A Study in Classical African Ethics, 2006; 2004 (Best Book 2004鈥擳he Cheikh Anta Diop Award for Excellence in Scholarship)
- Handbook of Black Studies, co-edited with Molefi Asante, 2005
- Introduction to Black Studies, 3rd Edition, 2002
- Odu Ifa: The Ethical Teachings, 1999
- Kawaida: A Communitarian African Philosophy, 1997
- The Million Man March / Day of Absence: A Commemorative Anthology, co-edited with Haki Madhubuti, 1996
- Selections From the Husia: Sacred Wisdom of Ancient Egypt, 1984
Book Chapters
- 鈥淢olefi Asante and the Afrocentric Initiative: Mapping the Terrain of His Intellectual Impact鈥, in Ama Mazama (ed.), Essays in Honor of an Intellectual Warrior: Molefi Kete Asante, Paris: Menaibuc, 2009, pp. 17-49
- 鈥淭he Nguzo Saba and the Black Family: Principles and Practices of Well-Being and Flourishing,鈥 Maulana Karenga and Tiamoyo Karenga, co-authors, in Harriet Pipes McAdoo, (ed.), Black Families, 4th Ed, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2007, pp. 7-28.
- 鈥淭he Field, Function and Future of Africana Studies: Critical Reflections on Its Mission, Meaning and Methodology,鈥 in Molefi Asante and Maulana Karenga, (eds.), Handbook of Black Studies, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2006, pp. 402-420
- 鈥淧hilosophy in the African Tradition of Resistance: Issues of Human Freedom and Human Flourishing鈥, in Louis R. Gordon and Jane Anna Gordon, (eds.), Not Only the Master鈥檚 Tools: African American Studies in Theory and Practice, Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers, 2006, pp. 243-271
- 鈥淣ommo, Kawaida and Communicative Practice: Bringing Good into the World,鈥 in Understanding African American Rhetoric: Classical Origins to Contemporary Innovations, (eds.) Ronald L. Jackson II and Elaine B. Richardson, New York: Routledge, 2003, pp. 3-22
- 鈥淏lack Studies: A Critical Reassessment,鈥 Dispatches from the Ebony Tower: Intellectuals Confront the African American Experience, Manning Marable, (ed.), New York: Columbia University Press, 2000, pp. 162-170
Journal Articles
- 鈥淣ames and Notions of Black Studies: Issues of Roots, Range and Relevance鈥, Journal of Black Studies, 40, 1 (2009), 41-64
- 鈥淢aatian Discourse and Human Rights: Ancient Egyptian Textual Sources鈥, Africalogical Perspectives, 5, 1 (2008), 107-124
- 鈥淭he Moral Anthropology of Marcus Garvey: In the Fullness of Ourselves鈥, Journal of Black Studies, 39, 2 (2008), 166-193
- 鈥淒uBois and the Question of the Color Line: Race and Class in the Age of Globalization,鈥 Socialism and Democracy, 17, 1 (Winter-Spring, 2003), 141-160
- 鈥淭he Pan-African Initiative in the Americas: Culture, Common Struggle and the Odu Ifa,鈥 National Political Science Review, 9, (2003), 156-172
Education Information (degrees and Universities attended)
- Ph.D. in Social Ethics (emphasis in classical African ethics of ancient Egypt ), University of Southern California, 1994
- Ph.D. in Political Science (emphasis in theory and practice of nationalism), United States International University, San Diego, 1976
- B.A. and M.A. in Political Science (specialization in African Studies), University of California at Los Angeles, 1963, 1964.
Courses
- AFRS 110: Introduction to Africana Studies
- AFRS 150: Critical Thinking in Africana Studies
- AFRS 215: U.S. Diversity and the Ethnic Experience
- AFRS 319: Ethnic Experience in the U.S.
- AFRS 332: Civil Rights and the Law
- AFRS 353I: Religions of African Peoples
- AFRS 498I: Ancient Egyptian Ethical Thought
- AFRS 499: Directed Studies
Professional and community affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- National Council for Black Studies, Board Member
- African Heritage Studies Association, Member
- California Black Faculty and Staff Association, Member
- California Faculty Association, Member
- Journal of Black Studies, Editorial Board
- Western Journal of Black Studies, Editorial Board
- The Black Scholar, Editorial Board
Community Affiliations
- Kawaida Institute of Pan- African Studies, Los Angeles, Executive Director
- African American Cultural Center (Us), Los Angeles, Executive Director
- The Organization Us, National Chairman
- National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO), National Chairman
- Knowledge Transfer Summit, Los Angeles, Member
- Kwanzaa Ujima Collective, Chair
- TransAfrica Forum, Member
Professional Awards (selected listing)
- The Cheikh Anta Diop Award for Excellence in Scholarship, The Ankh Scientific Institute, The Annual Cheikh Anta Diop International Conference
- C.L.R. James Award for Outstanding Publication of Scholarly Works that Advance the Discipline of Africana and Black Studies, National Council for Black Studies
- The Diopian Institute Award for Excellence in Scholarship, The Diopian Institute for Scholarly Advancement, The Annual Cheikh Anta Diop International Conference
- National Leadership Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievements in Black Studies, National Council for Black Studies
- President鈥檚 Award for Scholarship and Service in the Development of Black Studies, African Heritage Studies Association
- Paul Robeson-Zora Neale Hurston Award for Scholarly Work Significantly Contributive to the Understanding, Development and Appreciation of African World Culture, National Council for Black Studies
- Legacy Award for Milestone Contributions, Institute of the Black World 21st Century
- Diop Exemplary Leadership Award, Department of African American Studies, Temple University
- Peace Education Award for Distinguished Leadership, Scholarship and Education in Building Bridges Among Africans Throughout the World, Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution, California State University鈥擲acramento
- Richard Allen Living Legend Award, African Methodist Episcopal Church
- Pioneer Award, Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund
Special Distinction
- Creator of the African American and pan-African holiday Kwanzaa, a celebration of family, community and culture, 1966
- Author of the authoritative work on Kwanzaa, Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, 1998
Links
Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty and Full-Time Lecturers
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Assistant Professor
Office: PSY-309
Phone: 562.985.8686
Email: eva.bohler@csulb.edu
Research Interests
- African American Intellectual Histories
- Africana Womanism
- Black women in the Civil Rights Movement
- Afrocentricity
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy, Africology and African American Studies, Temple University, 2021.
- Master of Arts, English, Arcadia University, 2012.
- Master of Arts, African American Studies, Temple University, 2006.
- Bachelor of Arts, Humanities-Prelaw, Michigan State University, 2004.
Teaching Areas
- Racial and Ethnic Studies
- Africana Womanism
- African American women in the Civil Rights Movement
Selected Publications
- "Howard Thurman's Jesus and the Disinherited as a Framework for Victory," Black Perspectives, April 13, 2023.
- "The Lyrical Activism of Sister Souljah," Black Perspectives, August 17, 2023.
- "Fighting to be heard: Black women and the Suffrage Movement," ABC-CLIO.
- "It's not just a man's world: Examining the contributions of Black women to the Civil Rights Movement," ABC-CLIO.
- "Portraits of Resilience: Examining the Scholarship of Dr. Carey H. Latimore," Siyabonana: The Journal of Africana Studies Special Issue: Maa Kheru: Honoring our Ancestor's Contributions to Africana Studies (forthcoming).
- "Branches from Igi Ose': The Geneological Impact of Afrocentricity," in Afrocentricity: Generations of Theory in Practice, Edited by Aaron X. Smith. New York, NY: Universal Write Publications (forthcoming).
- "Reflections and New Directions: Examining the Impact of Africana Womanism," in New Perspectives in Africana Studies: Volume 1, Edited by Crystal Edwards and Abul Pitre. Lanham, MD: Hamilton Books (forthcoming).
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Associate Professor
Office: PSY-301
Phone: 562.985.5180
Email: m.keith.claybrook@csulb.edu
Professional Memberships
- 2021 - Present - African American Intellectual History Society (Lifetime Member)
- 2018 - Present - Association for the Study of African American Life and History
- 2016 - Present - African Heritage Studies Association
- 2007- Present - National Council for Black Studies
Professional and Community Leadership
- Jan. 2025 - Present - African American Cultural Center of Long Beach, Board of Directors
Education
- May 2016 - Cultural Studies, PhD, Claremont Graduate University
- Aug. 2005 - General Education, MA, Loyola Marymount University
- Dec. 2004 - History, BA, Loyola Marymount University
- May 2002 - African American Studies, BA, Loyola Marymount University
Courses Taught
(*Indicates courses developed by Claybrook)
CSU, Long Beach
- African American History to 1865
- African American History from 1865-Present
- Black Los Angeles*
- Black Student Movement* (Forthcoming)
- Critical Thinking in Africana Studies
- Economic Development in the African American Community
- History of Slavery
- Introduction to Africana Studies
- Introduction to Hip Hop
- Introduction to Racial and Ethnic Studies
- Politics of the African American Community
- Racism and Sexism: An Analytic Approach (Capstone)
- Research Methods in Africana Studies
- Special Topics: Pathways to Men's Success
Book
- Building the Basics: A Handbook for Pursuing Academic Excellence in Africana Studies, 2nd Edition, Kendall Hunt Press, 2021. (eBook and Print)
Journals
- 鈥淏lack Power and Black Identity in Los Angeles: Renaming and Redefining Black Racial Identity Nationally and Locally,鈥 Siyabonana: Journal of Africana Studies, Vol. 1, No. 2, Summer 2023, pgs. 41- 79.
- 鈥淩eframing the Black Student Movement: Conceptualizing Black Student Activism in the Black Activist-Intellectual Tradition, A Case Study in Los Angeles,鈥 Journal of African American Studies, March 17, 2023, .
- 鈥淎frican Proverbs, Riddles, and Storytelling: Promoting African Deep Thought in Africana Studies鈥 Journal of Black Studies, March 6, 2023
- 鈥淔rom Black Student Activist to Africana Scholar Activist: David C. Turner, III and Black Graduate Student Activism as Professional Development, A Case Study,鈥 Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 53, Nos. 4, 2022, pgs 323- 345,
- 鈥淎fricana Studies and 21st Century Black Student Activism: A Biographical Sketch of David C. Turner, III,鈥 Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 52, Nos. 4, 2021, pgs. 359-378.
- 鈥淧utting Some Soul into Critical Thinking: Towards an Approach and Process for Critical Thinking in Africana Studies,鈥 International Journal of Africana Studies, Vol. 21, Nos. 1-2, 2020, pgs. 126- 147.
Peer Reviewed Blogs
- 鈥淔raming Black History in Freedom,鈥 Black Perspectives (Pending).
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, November 15, 2024.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, October 9, 2024.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, April 3, 2024.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, January 18, 2024.
- 鈥溾 Black Perspectives, January 11, 2024.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, November 28, 2023.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, November 6, 2023.
- 鈥溾 Black Perspectives, September 26, 2023.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, May 9, 2023.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, February 21, 2023.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, January 16, 2023.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, December 9, 2022.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, October 28, 2022.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, August 11, 2022.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, June 23, 2022.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, April 11, 2022.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, March 1, 2022.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, September 10, 2021.
- 鈥,鈥 Black Perspectives, August 13, 2021.
Podcast/Media Interviews
- 鈥淏lack Past. Black Present. Black Future: Freedom鈥 Nicole D. Vick Live!, February 22, 2024.
- 鈥淩eparations: Who Will Pay Reparations on Our Soul?鈥 Afrikan/ Black Coalition, February 24, 2022.
- 鈥淗ow the Black Codes Limited African American Progress After the Civil War,鈥 History Stories, October 1, 2020.
- 鈥淔ederal forces in Portland have legal standing, but break with precedent,鈥 The Denver Channel.com, August 28, 2020.
- Today in L.A. on NBC4, Juneteenth Interview, June 16, 2020
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Africologist and Assistant Professor
Office: PSY-303
Phone: 562.985.4697
Email: alice.nicholas@csulb.edu
Research
Afrocentricity, Africana womanism, Africana liberation, culture and cultural production
Education
- Ph.D., Africology and African American Studies, Temple University, 2019.
- M.A., Africology, California State University, Dominguez Hills, 2013.
- B.A., English Literature and African American Studies (dual major), California State University, Dominguez Hills, 1993.
Publications
- "Chick Webb, The King of Swing" in Black Perspectives
- "Story #4,112,011: A'ight Now" and "Story #4,132,001: Idioms" - African American Review
- "Story #8,112,016 from 10 Million Stories: Obsidian" - Voices from Leimert Park, Redux
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Lecturer
Office: PSY-307
Phone: 562.985.7843
Email: uche.okafor@csulb.edu
Academic Specialties / Areas of Interest
- Africana Literature and Culture
- Africana Theories of Gender Relationships
- Third World Theories of Gender Relationships
- Freshman Composition
- Prebaccalaureate Language Skills
- Creative Writing
- Reimagining African Diaspora Families and Communities
Education Information (Degrees and Universities attended)
- Doctor of Philosophy, Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, 2006; Dissertation: A Comparative Study of Female Characters in the novels of Buchi Emecheta, Jamaica Kincaid and Alice Walker
- Master of Arts Degree, Literature, University of Nigeria, 1993
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and English, University of Nigeria, 1987
Teaching Areas
- African Literature and Culture
- African American Literature and Culture
- African American Theater
- International Black Children鈥檚 Literature
- Prebaccalaureate Language Skills
- Freshman Composition
- African American History to 1865
Professional Affiliations
- National Council for Black Studies
- Modern Language Association
Community Affiliations
- Los Angeles World Affairs Council
- Odinamba Women鈥檚 Cultural Association of Southern California
Special Distinctions
- On September 17-18 2014, Dr. Okafor participated in the World Peace Summit tagged 鈥淭he Summit for the World Alliance for Religions of Peace鈥 in Seoul South Korea. Her paper was entitled鈥 Women as Peacemakers: The African Example鈥
- On February 14 2015, and June 20 2015 respectively, Dr. Okafor made guest appearances on a television show Yaba TV Show on Channel 13 KCOP Los Angeles.
Dr. Okafor's Website
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Associate Professor
Office: PSY-305
Phone: 562.985.8694
Email: khonsura.a.wilson@csulb.edu
Specialties
- Afrocentric Theory and Praxis
- Africana Philosophy (Aesthetics, Creativity, Spirituality, Ontology)
- African American Social Thought (17th-20th century)
- African Art and Design History
- African History and Social Thought
Education
- Temple University, Doctor of Philosophy in African American Studies, 2005. Dissertation: Makuneferu, The Truly Beautiful and Effective: An Afrocentric Study of Select 20th Century Creative Intellectuals: Towards a Portrait and Paradigm of Creative Thought and Ideal Creative Practice.
- Temple University, Master of Arts in African American Studies, 1999. Concentration: Afrocentric theory and social praxis, African creative theories, and diverse modes of creative expression.
- Rhode Island School of Design, Master of Arts in Teaching, 1994. Advanced training in curriculum design.
- Rhode Island School of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1992. Concentrations: Printmaking, multimedia illustration, sculpture, graphic design, art history, African literature, and Ancient Mexican art and civilization.
- Brown University, Liberal Arts Courses, 1989-90. Areas of Study: African dance, Spanish culture, and language.
Courses Taught
- AFRS 110 Introduction to Africana Studies
- AFRS 150 Critical Thinking
- AFRS 155 African American Music
- AFRS 160 Introduction to Africana Art
- AFRS 255 Introduction to Hip Hop
- AFRS 330 Politics of the African American Community
- AFRS 400 African American Social Thought
- AFRS 363 African Art
Publications
- Wilson, K. A. (2005). Kemet, Afrocentricity and Knowledge. In M. K. Asante & A. Mazama (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Black Studies (Vol. 1, pp. 295-297). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc.
- Wilson, K. A. (2009d). Khonsu. In M. K. Asante & A. Mazama (Eds.), Encyclopedia of African Religions (pp. 363). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc.
- Wilson, K. A. (2009k). Shedj-her-kek em Maa-aku-neferu: "Illuminating the Shadows of the African Creative Ideal" of W.E.B. DuBois. Journal of Black Studies 39(5), 744-760.
- Wilson, K. A. (2010c). Veil and Veener of Intellectual Aesthetics. Journal of Black Studies, 40(6), 1107-1118.
- Wilson, K.A (2013). The Cosmopolitan Creative Intellectual: The Creative Ideal of Paul Robeson. Journal of Black Studies, XX (X), 110.
Department Coordinator
Office: PSY-306
Phone: 562.985.4624
Email: chimbuko.tembo@csulb.edu
Part-Time Lecturers
- Dr. Arnette Edwards
- Dr. Zanele Furusa
- Dr. Nathan Goodly
- Prof. Marshall Goodman
- Prof. Prince Gumbi
- Dr. Jimmy Kirby, Jr.
- Prof. Rita Page
- Dr. Natalie Sartin
- Dr. Sabrena Turner-Odom
- Dr. La'Seanda Wesson
- Prof. David Williams
- Dr. Ngozi Williams
Professors Emeriti
- Professor Arnett Hartsfield
- Dr. Alosi Moloi
- Professor Amen Rahh
- Dr. Jim C. Robinson
- Dr. Ssendi Bede Ssensalo
- Dr. Skyne Uku-Wertimer