The Department of Black Studies is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program seeking to increase the awareness and understanding of the Black experience through an examination of historical and contemporary manifestations in various societies. Black Studies is a distinctly innovative discipline that focuses on people of African descent whether they live in Africa, in the Caribbean, or in North or South America. The Department utilizes multiple theoretical and methodological approaches to introduce students to history, literature, cinema, religion, the arts, and the social sciences while examining the dynamics of race, class, gender, sexuality, culture, politics, and economics. Gifts to the Department of Black Studies help the Department and the Center for Black Studies Research expand programs to reach more students, promote more in-depth research, and attract world-class scholars.