b.A. Africana Studies, san francisco state university

m.a. Candidacy, African studies, howard university

The history of Africana Studies at San Francisco State University is marked by the first-ever Black Studies Department, founded in 1968 by the first chair, Nathan Hare. Other notable chairs include Oba T'Shaka, who led the department's name change to Africana Studies in 2005, and a list of past chairs includes Doris Flowers, Dawn-Elissa Fischer, Serie McDougal, Dorothy Tsuruta, Theophile Obenga, and Wade Nobles. The department was born from the 1968 student strike and grew to include the entire African diaspora in its curriculum, a shift solidified by T'Shaka's leadership.
Early history

• • Founding and initial leadership: The department was established in 1968, following a five-month student strike, and Nathan Hare was the first to be hired to coordinate it.

  • Establishment: The department officially became part of the first College of Ethnic Studies in the United States, alongside other newly formed ethnic studies programs. 

Notable chairs and leadership

• • Nathan Hare: Often called "The Father of Black Studies," Hare coordinated the program in 1968 and was the first chair of the department, which he established after the strike.

  • Oba T'Shaka: Served as chair and oversaw the transition from "Black Studies" to "Africana Studies" in 2005.

  • Other past chairs: The list of chairs includes Doris Flowers, Dawn-Elissa Fischer, Serie McDougal, Dorothy Tsuruta, Theophile Obenga, and Wade Nobles.