African American studies programs

Abstract: Carmen Fields reports on differing opinions of the African American studies program at Harvard University. Fields interviews Harvard professors Harvey Mansfield and Orlando Patterson. Mansfield says that conservative scholars are excluded from the African American studies program at Harvard. Mansfield adds that the program is too political and not concerned enough with the study of the African American experience. Mansfield calls African American studies an 'advocacy major' which promotes a certain point of view. Patterson notes that many academic departments are too political. He adds that history departments often teach history from only one perspective. Patterson says that African American studies offers an inter-disciplinary approach to the study of one area of life. Patterson discusses his concerns over the lack of African American scholars entering academia. Fields's report is accompanied by footage of the Harvard campus and footage of students in a class taught by Derrick Bell (Professor, Harvard Law School).

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