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EnglishResearch and Publications in WashU's Department of African & African American Studies
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The Department of African & African American Studies (AFAS) at Washington University in St. Louis presents its research output through a mix of a departmental journal, public commentary, and interdisciplinary graduate training. The clearest single publication to point to is the James Baldwin Review, whose tenth-anniversary volume (Volume 10) received the 2024–2025 Best Special Issue Award from the Council of Editors of Learned Journals (CELJ). Beyond that, the department's research identity shows up in public-facing scholarship—such as faculty book recommendations for Black History Month—and in the Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies, which extends research training to doctoral students across disciplines.
The James Baldwin Review and the CELJ Award
The James Baldwin Review is the department's most concretely documented publication. According to the department's site, CELJ's judging panel called Volume 10 "expertly edited" and described it as a collection that will "prove generative for scholarship and creative work to come."
The award citation also speaks to the volume's range:
- For newcomers, the issue works as "an excellent portrait of why they need to read James Baldwin now."
- For specialists, it functions as "a who's who of James Baldwin scholarship."
The editorial staff credited contributors and editorial board members for the recognition. If you want to assess the journal's scope or cite it, the department links directly to Volume 10 from its homepage.
What this tells you about the department's research profile
A journal dedicated to a single author, sustained across ten volumes and recognized by a learned-journals council, signals a research culture built around long-term editorial projects rather than one-off publications. It also indicates the department treats literary and cultural criticism as core scholarly work alongside history and social science.
Public-Facing Research and Commentary
The department frames its mission around "transformative research, teaching, and programming," and its homepage shows that research reaching public audiences. Two examples:
- Black History Month book recommendations from WashU professors, which translate faculty expertise into accessible reading lists.
- Commentary on "Black Studies and the Future of the American University," which addresses academic freedom, curriculum debates, donor influence on research, and Missouri legislative efforts to shape educational curricula. The piece argues these conditions create a critical moment for examining how universities sustain open inquiry and inclusive knowledge production.
For prospective students or collaborators, this combination suggests the department values scholarship that engages current policy and institutional questions, not only archival or theoretical work.
Research Training: The Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies
The department's research mission extends through the Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies, offered to doctoral students at Washington University. Key features from the department's description:
| Dimension | Detail |
|---|---|
| Audience | Doctoral students at WashU |
| Structure | Interdisciplinary training in the humanities and social sciences beyond the student's primary department |
| Focus | Black experiences across the globe |
| Format | Coursework (the site describes training "through coursewo[rk]") |
The certificate is aimed at students who want rigorous grounding in Black studies without switching departments. If you are a doctoral student considering it, the practical next step is the department's "Apply Now" page for the certificate, which the homepage links directly.
How to Use These Resources
- To read or cite the Baldwin scholarship: start with James Baldwin Review Volume 10 via the department's link, and use the CELJ award as external validation of the volume's quality.
- To follow the department's public commentary: check the homepage features, which rotate between faculty recommendations and essays on higher education.
- To pursue research training: review the Graduate Certificate in Global Black Studies requirements and application through the AFAS site.
One caution: the department's public pages describe research themes and programs at a high level. For specifics—publication lists, faculty research areas, or certificate course requirements—you will need to navigate the department's internal pages rather than rely on the homepage summary.