News from

Africana Studies

Reset All Filters
157 Results
Q&A: Juneteenth and the Emancipation Proclamation
Historical image of a group of African Americans at Juneteenth celebration in 1900.19

A Juneteenth Emancipation Day celebration, June 19, 1900, Texas. 

nocred

  • Q&A

    • Q&A: Juneteenth and the Emancipation Proclamation

    Penn Today spoke with Marcia Chatelain of Africana Studies and Kermit Roosevelt of Penn Carey Law about the history of the Emancipation Proclamation and the impact of Juneteenth throughout the American story and today.

    4 min. read

    A celebration of freedom, wellness, and community
    A person jumping in the double dutch ropes on the Penn Museum courtyard.

    nocred

    A celebration of freedom, wellness, and community

    On June 13, the Penn Museum opened its doors and courtyard to visitors for a free day of live performances, a health and financial literacy fair, and family activities.

    Penn Today Staff

    3 min. read

    Exploring Black America: A historian’s unique path of inquiry
    Marcia Chatelain

    Marcia Chatelain’s next book, coming out this fall, is a narrative history of the women who played roles in the 1963 March on Washington.

    nocred

    Exploring Black America: A historian’s unique path of inquiry

    Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marcia Chatelain, a Penn Presidential Compact Professor of Africana Studies, takes a unique approach to history, from the impact of fast food to the leadership of the Civil Rights Movement.

    4 min. read

    5 things: A conversation with Spike Lee
    Spike Lee speaking on stage with Heather Williams.

    nocred

    5 things: A conversation with Spike Lee

    Penn’s Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award recipient and award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee spoke with professor Heather A. Williams, about the Civil Rights Movement, filmmaking, and more.

    3 min. read

    Connecting with America’s 250th anniversary
    The Declaration of Independence at the National Archives

    The Declaration of Independence on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

    (Image: Mark Schiefelbein via AP Images)

    Connecting with America’s 250th anniversary

    Ahead of the main event on July 4, 2026, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Penn students, faculty, and staff will have multiple early opportunities to engage with America’s 250th anniversary.

    3 min. read

    What to read, watch, and cook for Juneteenth

    An Emancipation Day parade in St. Augustine, Florida, circa 1922.

    (Image: State Archives of Florida)

    What to read, watch, and cook for Juneteenth

    Specialists from Penn Libraries offer seven resources to learn more about and celebrate Juneteenth.

    3 min. read

    How the Annenberg School connected all the dots for Naima Small
    Naima Small in a tulip garden.

    Image: Courtesy of Annenberg School for Communication

    How the Annenberg School connected all the dots for Naima Small

    The Class of 2025 communications major was drawn to studying social media and culture, how gender is portrayed online, and the role of technology in perpetuating bias. “I loved how Annenberg enabled me to not only see the diversity of ways I could use my degree, but also learn from people who had much different academic interests than me.”

    From Annenberg School for Communication

    2 min. read