BILL NUMBER: ACR 71 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
ADOPTED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 11, 2013
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 19, 2013
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 19, 2013
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 5, 2013
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Weber
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bradford, Brown, Hall, Holden,
Jones-Sawyer, Mitchell, Achadjian, Alejo, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow,
Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Campos,
Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson,
Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez,
Gonzalez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Grove, Hagman, Harkey, Roger
Hernández, Jones, Levine, Linder, Logue, Lowenthal, Maienschein,
Medina, Melendez, Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande,
Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea, John A. Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva,
Rendon, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Waldron, Wieckowski, Wilk,
Williams, and Yamada)
(Coauthor: Senator Wright)
JULY 3, 2013
Relative to Africana studies.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 71, Weber. Africana studies programs.
This measure would formally endorse the invaluable work of
California's Africana studies programs, and their faculty, staff, and
students. The measure would recognize the leadership provided by the
beneficiaries of those programs, and would support the continuation
of Africana studies programs in California's institutions of higher
education.
WHEREAS, The academic discipline of Africana studies encompasses
research, scholarship, and programs that analyze and reflect the
experiences and contributions of African natives and African
Americans; and
WHEREAS, Formal Africana studies programs and departments at
California's universities resulted from student-led movements dating
back to the 1960s. These movements included demonstrations and
student protests, where students, faculty, and community members
demanded university courses relevant to them and their communities;
and
WHEREAS, Since the 1960s, Africana and Black studies have been the
academic and intellectual extension of the Civil Rights Movement;
and
WHEREAS, The formalization of Africana studies increased awareness
of the need for faculty, students, and staff from diverse
communities in California's universities; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Nathan Hare, known as the father of Black studies
programs in the United States, was the department chair of the nation'
s first African American studies academic program in 1968 at San
Francisco State University. Following a similar pursuit, faculty
members including, but not limited to, Carrol Wayman, Vernon Oaks,
Norman Chambers, Shirley W. Thomas, Shirley N. Weber, and Harold K.
Brown developed the first Black studies program at San Diego State
University in 1972; and
WHEREAS, In addition to offering the first African American
studies program in the United States, the California State University
has nine programs statewide as well as seven ethnic and gender
studies programs leading to undergraduate and graduate degrees; and
WHEREAS, Over 400 students chose to major in African American
studies for fall of 2012 and another 200 in gender or ethnic studies;
and
WHEREAS, The University of California campuses at Berkeley, Davis,
Riverside, Irvine, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara offer
undergraduate degrees in one of African American studies, Black
studies, or Afro-American studies; and
WHEREAS, Africana studies is comprised of several disciplines,
including art history, humanities, political science, behavioral
science, and history; and
WHEREAS, Africana studies, known in some departments as Black,
Pan-African, or Afro-American studies, encompass the origin, history,
culture, experiences, heritage, achievements, and contributions of
African natives and African Americans; and
WHEREAS, Africana studies, a respected academic field, has
fostered the development of professional organizations,
institutionalized departments, research journals, award-winning
publications, and other related programs across the United States;
and
WHEREAS, Departments, programs, and related projects in the field
of Africana and Black studies promote constructive communication and
collaborative efforts among diverse groups, and encourage respect,
understanding, appreciation, equality, and dignity among all groups;
and
WHEREAS, The study of the roles, contributions, and achievements
of African natives and African Americans provides a rich and in-depth
perspective for understanding California and United States history;
and
WHEREAS, Africana and related studies incorporate the influence of
African natives and African Americans on the California education
system and on America's diverse racial and ethnic groups; and
WHEREAS, Africana studies and related academic disciplines promote
a view of ethnic groups as significant contributors to the history
and diversity of California and the United States history; and
WHEREAS, Africana studies has been the model and inspiration for
other ethnic, gender, and social education programs throughout the
United States; and
WHEREAS, The continuation and expansion of Africana studies within
our state's educational system would encourage students to analyze
and synthesize information with a global perspective; and
WHEREAS, Support for postsecondary Africana studies departments,
programs, and related projects, including financial support, will
allow for the continued guidance and teaching of a new generation of
students who will enrich and contribute to California policy,
education, and government; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
formally endorses the invaluable work of California's Africana
studies departments, programs, and related projects, and their
faculty, staff, and students; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California also
recognizes that the leadership provided by the beneficiaries of these
programs has contributed greatly to the academic rigor, prominence,
and distinguishing qualities of California's colleges and
universities and the vitality of other public and private
institutions, including the California state government; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California supports
the continuation of Africana studies departments, programs, and
related projects in California's institutions of higher education;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the Regents of the University of California, the
Trustees of the California State University, the Board of Governors
of the California Community Colleges, and the author for appropriate
distribution.