MSU African American and African Studies “unicorns” drive Black futures beyond survival into wellness

<p><a href="https://aaas.msu.edu">AAAS at MSU</a> was initially founded as a PhD granting program in 2002. On July 1, 2019, AAAS became a department. In Spring 2020, MSU appointed Brown the inaugural chair.</p><p>“We insist that Black studies uncovers and creates technologies of living for Black people and Black futures,” says <a href="https://aaas.msu.edu/people/ruth-nicole-brown/">Brown</a>. “And when we say Black people, we mean all Black people. And when we say Black futures, we mean beyond survival into wellness. We are continuing to build and expand with the addition of new faculty hires and new courses.”</p><p>Brown says that students can major in African American and African Studies at MSU. And she describes how the department is evolving. The department is getting exciting new physical space in Kedzie in time for fall semester that will include wellness and social rooms.</p><p>“That was a resounding message that I heard from the students is that they want opportunities to be together, certainly for our triple AAAS majors, but for all students who feel connected to our curriculum and are excited about the vision in Black feminisms, Black genders, and Black sexualities studies.”</p><p>Brown talks about the accomplished and passionate additions to the department’s faculty. Dill talks about her background and what attracted her to AAAS at MSU.</p><p>“What attracted me to AAAS was the centering, the unapologetic centering of Black feminisms, which is unique and rare and nuanced, particularly in Black studies, but also across disciplines in the academy,” says Dill. “It was this calling and shouting out that Black feminisms are the center. It's not an elective, it's not an afterthought; it's the center for everything they do. And so, much like I've lived my life and grounded my scholarship in that, that attracted me.</p><p>“I sometimes describe myself as a unicorn. Having this horn sticking out, this mythical character. But I specifically came here to AAAS because I realized that there were other unico