Faculty and Staff

Department Chair and Advisor

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—The 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—The 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

  • “Molefi Asante and the Afrocentric Initiative: Mapping the Terrain of His Intellectual Impact”, in Ama Mazama (ed.), Essays in Honor of an Intellectual Warrior: Molefi Kete Asante, Paris: Menaibuc, 2009, pp. 17-49
  • “The Nguzo Saba and the Black Family: Principles and Practices of Well-Being and Flourishing,” 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.
  • “The Field, Function and Future of Africana Studies: Critical Reflections on Its Mission, Meaning and Methodology,” in Molefi Asante and Maulana Karenga, (eds.), Handbook of Black Studies, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2006, pp. 402-420
  • “Philosophy in the African Tradition of Resistance: Issues of Human Freedom and Human Flourishing”, in Louis R. Gordon and Jane Anna Gordon, (eds.), Not Only the Master’s Tools: African American Studies in Theory and Practice, Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers, 2006, pp. 243-271
  • “Nommo, Kawaida and Communicative Practice: Bringing Good into the World,” 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
  • “Black Studies: A Critical Reassessment,” 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

  • “Names and Notions of Black Studies: Issues of Roots, Range and Relevance”, Journal of Black Studies, 40, 1 (2009), 41-64
  • “Maatian Discourse and Human Rights: Ancient Egyptian Textual Sources”, Africalogical Perspectives, 5, 1 (2008), 107-124
  • “The Moral Anthropology of Marcus Garvey: In the Fullness of Ourselves”, Journal of Black Studies, 39, 2 (2008), 166-193
  • “DuBois and the Question of the Color Line: Race and Class in the Age of Globalization,” Socialism and Democracy, 17, 1 (Winter-Spring, 2003), 141-160
  • “The Pan-African Initiative in the Americas: Culture, Common Struggle and the Odu Ifa,” 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’s 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—Sacramento
  • 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

Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty and Full Time Lecturers

Assistant Professor

Office: PSY-309
Phone: 562.985.8686
Email: eva.bohler@csulb.edu

Associate Professor

Office: PSY-301
Phone: 562.985.5180
Email: keith.claybrook@csulb.edu

Academic Specialties/ Area of interest:

  • History of Black Liberation Movements
  • History of African Americans in Higher Education
  • African Liberation Movements
  • Caribbean Liberation Movements
  • African and African Diasporic Spirituality
  • African Indigenous Pedagogy
  • History of the African Diaspora
  • History of African American Reparations Movement
  • History of Hip Hop      

Education Information (degrees and Universities attended):

  • Undergraduate:
    • B.A. in African American Studies, concentration in History, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
    • B.A. in History, concentration in Africa, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
  • Graduate:
    • M.A. in General Education concentration Intercultural Education, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
    • Ph.D. in Cultural Studies with Africana Studies Certificate, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA

Courses

  • AFRS 120- African American History to 1865
  • AFRS 121- African American History Since 1865- Present
  • AFRS 150- Critical Thinking in Africana Studies
  • AFRS 201- History of Slavery
  • AFRS 475- Racism and Sexism: An Analytical Approach
  • AFRS 495- Research Methods in Africana Studies

Personal Statement

As a faculty member in the Department of Africana Studies, I share information with our students and work with them to develop their knowledge base. In addition, I cultivate critical thinking, reading, and writing skills that are needed and necessary in an ever-increasing competitive academic and professional world. Essential in the preparation and cultivation of our students is mentorship, which is a passion of mine. As growing and developing scholars, our students must be equipped with comprehensive accurate information, theoretical and philosophical approaches that are both critical, reaffirming, and transformative, and committed to doing their very best both in and out of the classroom. The Department of Africana Studies offers an opportunity for all such things.

Professional and community affiliations

  • African Heritage Studies Association
  • National Council for Black Studies
  • Reparations United Front
  • Sixth Region Diaspora Caucus

Assistant Professor

Email: alice.nicholas@csulb.edu

Lecturer

Office: PSY-307
Phone: 562.985.7843
Email: uche.okafor@csulb.edu

Associate Professor 

Office: PSY-305
Phone: 562.985.8694
Email: khonsura.a.wilson@csulb.edu

Academic specialties/Area of interest:

  • Afrocentric Theory
  • Africana Creative Production and History
  • Africana Aesthetics and the Afrocentric Creative ideal
  • Africana Intellectual History
  • Nile Valley Culture and Civilization
  • Kemetic Art and Language
  • Music, Literature and Performance
  • Classical and Modern Africana Philosophy
  • Pan African Social Thought
  • Africana Spirituality and Mythology
  • Multimedia and Creative Technology use in Africana Communities
  • Hip-Hop and Popular Culture

Education Information (degrees and Universities attended):

  • Undergraduate
    • B.A. in Fine Arts, Rhode Island School of Design , Providence , RI
  • Graduate
    • M.A. in Art (Teaching), Rhode Island School of Design , Providence, RI M.A. in Art (African American Studies), Rhode Island School of Design ,Providence , RI Ph.D. in African American Studies, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Courses

  • AFRS 150: Critical Thinking in Africana Studies
  • AFRS 155: African American Music
  • AFRS 255: Introduction to Hip Hop
  • AFRS 400: African American Social Thought

Personal Statement

To study and learn about Africa and her descendants is to truly understand the human struggle and will to victory against self and society for consciousness, liberation, and cultural self-determination. To be sure, we can not understand and appreciate the richness and diversity of the American society we live and engage in unless understands the role, on going contributions and challenges of African descendants. Thus, a student enters Black Studies, Africana Studies or Africology to learn about the African world and its on going exchange and contribution to other cultural worlds. Equally, they come to learn about Africans from the victorious standpoint of agency and initiative (i.e. Afrocentricity) rather than from the standpoint of oppression and victimization. This, because they harbor the assumption that Africana culture is worthy of study. Likewise, they understand that what is needed to empower themselves or other Africans are the conceptual tools and theories rooted in African culture that will increase the life chances and improve life experiences of African people. The result is a profound self-knowledge of our own capacity to become self-conscious change agents.

Professional and community affiliations

  • Ancient Nubian Kemetic Heritage Association
  • National Council for Black Studies
  • National Afrocentric Institute
  • African Heritage Studies Association

Department Coordinator

Office: PSY-306
Phone: 562.985.4624

Professor Emeriti

  • Professor Arnett Hartsfield
  • Dr. Alosi Moloi
  • Professor Amen Rahh
  • Dr. Jim C. Robinson
  • Dr. Ssendi Bede Ssensalo
  • Dr. Skyne Uku-Wertimer