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Rising Scholar-Warrior Award
In the mid-1960s, Black students made a strong call for equity and a new direction in higher education. They challenged colleges and universities to remove demeaning information about people of African descent from the curriculum and replace it with courses that honored African people’s global impact on human world and history. They wanted an education that prepared them to solve social problems, build strong communities, and establish a just world.
Student activism was the force that brought African American Studies into the higher education curriculum. In 1985, Montclair State University joined the group of institutions offering an African American Studies program. Students in Montclair's 18-credit interdisciplinary minor expand their knowledge of African people’s social, political, and cultural impact around the globe. They study African epistemologies and perspectives on social concerns and explore African people across a range of intellectual traditions including History, Literature, Psychology, Sociology, Fine Arts, Music, and more. The program enhances students’ awareness and appreciation of African people’s heritage and value systems as well as their contributions to cultural, scientific, social, and political thought.
In addition to providing academic knowledge, the program holds true to one of the core values of African American Studies, namely, scholar-activist tradition. The African American Studies program aims to cultivate a cadre of scholars committed to using their intellect to solve social problems, elevate social justice, and build a world where equity thrives. Students in the program have served as leaders in campus organizations, received Minority Academic Careers fellowships, collaborated with faculty as research assistants, presented at professional conferences, and co-hosted educational programs at Montclair.
The African American Studies scholarship program was established to provide financial support to students in the Minor. Awards are provided annually to students in good academic standing who submit an insightful essay on the relevance of African American Studies in education and life.
We strongly believe that our students can establish meaningful relationships with communities and be catalysts for change. Donate to nurture the next generation of scholar-warriors using their education to make a difference in our world.
Please consider one of the giving levels provided or make a donation that is most meaningful to you in multiples of $1.50 in honor of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and her sweet potato pies.
Honor Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune who turned $1.50 into capital to run a school. Baking and selling sweet potato pies was one of her most well-known efforts for fundraising. Multiply $1.50 x 20 to honor her ingenuity and ability to turn a small amount of money into education for students.
Honor Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s persistence and commitment which transformed a small school into a university. Multiply 1.50 x 37, the number of years that the African American Studies Program has been in existence at Montclair State University.
Honor Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s notoriety as an educator and civil rights leader. Multiply 1.50 x 100 to celebrate her as an ardent believer in the power of education.
Honor 1985, the year our program was founded. Sustain the legacy. Share our commitment to rising scholar-warriors dedicated to building a world where we thrive together.