African-American studies

While I appreciate being singled out for my contributions in Joe Katz’s recent article “Why aren’t we teaching about Africa” (Viewpoints, 11/7/2005) and also agree that the University of Chicago could provide more courses in this field, I think the article somewhat overstates the problem.  To get a fuller idea of courses offered during the present academic year about Africa and Africa-related issues see the list on the web site of the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture (http://csrpc.uchicago.edu/resources_discipline.edu). It is unfortunate that more of these offerings  are not also listed in the University course catalogue under the “African and African-American Studies” rubric but we will try to remedy this in the future.  It should also be noted that we provide annual opportunities to study in Africa through both the Cape Town version of the African Civilization sequence and an Associated Colleges of the Midwest program in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Ralph A. Austen

Professor of African History

Co-chair, Committee on African

and African-American Studies