Department Mission

The Department of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach advances the critical and systematic study of African peoples—continental and diasporan—in historical and contemporary dimensions. Grounded in an Afrocentric and African-centered perspective and informed by interdisciplinary inquiry, the department examines lived experience, intellectual traditions, cultural formations, political struggle, and creative expression across global contexts. The department prepares students to communicate effectively, think critically, conduct research ethically, and engage diverse communities with intellectual rigor, cultural awareness, and social responsibility.