Who We Are
Black Studies at The University of Texas at Austin is a collective endeavor like no other Black Studies initiative in the country. With a history rooted in activism, the group draws its strength from four distinct yet aligned campus units – the African and African Diaspora Studies Department, the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, the Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis, and the Art Galleries at Black Studies. Students have access to and play a large role in the cutting-edge policy research, thought-provoking scholarship, and robust arts and cultural programming, happening every day at Black Studies at UT Austin.
Since 2012, Blackademics Television has brought together scholars from around the country to engage broad and diverse local, national and global audiences in the exploration of Black Studies scholarship through multiple formats, including: 1) a live recording event, 2) new and social media (via the Internet), and 3) public television.
The Lone Star Emmy nominated series is executive produced by AADS Professor, Dr. Kevin M. Foster. Professors and community leaders are invited to record “TEDx style” talks in front of a live audience at KLRU-TV studio on the UT Austin campus. The presentations fill an existing gap in middle school, high school, and adult teaching resources and in popular media as they incorporate Black Studies content in ways that facilitate engagement and learning. This show currently reaches 30% of American households.
Scholars are chosen based on the following:
1. to ensure a representation from the humanities, social sciences and the arts
2. for their standing in the Black Studies community
3. for their potential to engagingly share timely and critical scholarship with broad public audiences.
Blackademics TV is part of a larger organization, the Institute for Community, University and School Partnerships, which provides academic tools and programs for students who want to obtain higher education. Blackademics TV also houses a learning component, Blackademics Learning, that creates lesson plans and discussion guides from the Blackademics TV episodes for K-12 schools.
What We’re Fundraising For
Every dollar we raise will go directly to our production and program needs. Under University of Texas faculty direction, all production staff are current and former UT students. Our students are serving (and gaining experience) as media techs, creative consultants, camera operators, teleprompters and room staff.
During COVID-19, our students played a pivotal role in all aspects of pre and post production, including editing, closed captioning, graphics, and more.
Our students and staff work directly with our academic presenters and are available for their needs throughout the entire production process.
You can watch past seasons of Blackademics TV here
PRESS
The Daily Texas: Blackademics TV Explores Black Society
Lonestar Emmy Nominations
Diverse Education- Blackademics
SOCIAL MEDIA
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