African American Studies at Princeton University

In this powerful special edition of the AAS Podcast, host Tera Hunter—Chair of Princeton's Department of African American Studies—leads an urgent and reflective Juneteenth conversation with distinguished scholars Joshua Guild and Khalil Gibran Muhammad. Together, they explore the deep historical roots and contemporary significance of Juneteenth, not merely as a commemoration of emancipation, but as a critical reminder of the ongoing struggle for Black freedom and justice in America. The episode unpacks the delayed emancipation of enslaved people in Texas and how that moment has come to symbolize both liberation and the persistent deferral of true justice. The guests discuss how Juneteenth can serve as a tool for historical education and political awareness in a time of mounting resistance to teaching about race and systemic inequality. They confront today's challenges—from voter suppression to book bans—and connect them to longstanding efforts to silence Black history. Topics range from the fight for economic justice and the risk of performative recognition of Black holidays, to the power of grassroots organizing and the legacy of Black resistance. The conversation concludes with a call to action, encouraging listeners to move beyond celebration and toward meaningful engagement with their communities—through education, advocacy, and sustained activism. Above all, the episode asks: What does freedom truly mean, and how do we continue to fight for it? With clear-eyed realism and a commitment to hope, this Juneteenth conversation invites listeners to reflect, resist, and reimagine the path forward.

Housing justice isn't just about where we live—it's about power, equity, and the future of our communities. In this episode, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, and Majora Carter, real estate developer, urban revitalization strategist, and MacArthur Fellow, examine the systemic racism baked into housing policies and the economic forces that shape our neighborhoods. Taylor underscores the need for grassroots activism, while Carter shares her work on reversing the brain drain in low-status communities like the South Bronx. Together, they push for a fundamental shift in how we think about housing, development, and opportunity.

In this episode of the African American Studies podcast, host Justice Wilhoit engages in a critical conversation with Professors Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. and Marcus Lee about the current political landscape, particularly focusing on the implications of the 2020 election, the presidency of Joe Biden, and the role of Kamala Harris. The discussion also delves into intra-party dynamics within the Democratic Party, the strategies of the Republican Party, and the impact of student activism in relation to the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The speakers emphasize the need for innovative approaches to activism and the significance of community support in navigating political challenges. ~~ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Its Themes 03:01 The Political Landscape and the 2020 Election 06:05 Biden's Presidency and Its Implications 09:00 Kamala Harris: Identity and Political Strategy 11:50 Intra-Party Dynamics and the Democratic Party\ 14:47 Republican Party Strategies and Voter Dynamics 18:12 The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Student Activism 28:17 Media's Role in Shaping Discourse 32:40 Reflections on Privilege and Activism 37:03 The Complexity of Political Engagement 40:58 Symbolism and Representation in Politics 46:18 The Power and Influence of Media 53:06 Community and Hope in Political Times

How do we look at, and respond to, work by Black contemporary artists? In this episode, we sat down with Tina Campt, Visiting Professor in Art & Archaeology and the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton. We trace the arc of Prof. Campt's career, from her earlier research on family photography in the African diaspora and how one can "listen to images," all the way to her current writing and recent trip to this year's Venice Biennale. Along the way, we discuss concepts that elucidate the aesthetic, political, and experiential dynamics of work by artists like Jennifer Packer, Cameron Rowland, Stan Douglas, and Simone Leigh. Deep Dive: How to "listen" to a photograph Tina M. Campt, Listening to Images (Duke University Press, 2017). Tina M. Campt, A Black Gaze: Artists Changing How We See (MIT Press, 2021). The Breakdown - Guest Info (Photo credit: barnard.edu) Tina M. Campt (https://artandarchaeology.princeton.edu/people/tina-m-campt) Professor Campt taught a multidisciplinary seminar called "Radical Composition" as a Visiting Professor at Princeton for the Spring 2022 semester. She is the Owen F. Walker Professor of Humanities and Modern Culture and Media at Brown University, and heads the Black Visualities Initiative at Brown's Cogut Institute for Humanities. In addition to the five books she has authored and edited, such as Listening to Images and A Black Gaze, Professor Campt is the lead convener of the Practicing Refusal Collective and the Sojourner Project. See, Hear, Do "Radical Composition" course materials: Saidiya Hartman, "Venus in Two Acts." Small Axe 12, no. 2 (2008): 1-14. Flying Lotus, "Until the Quiet Comes," dir. Kahlil Joseph (2012). Carrie Mae Weems, "People of a Darker Hue" (2016). Jay-Z, "4:44," dir. Arthur Jafa (2017). Roy DeCarava and Langston Hughes, The Sweet Flypaper of Life (First Print Press, 2018). Practicing Refusal Collective, The Sojourner Project (ongoing). Whitney Museum of American Art, "Ask a Curator: Jennifer Packer: The Eye Is Not Satisfied With Seeing" (2022). Taylor DaFoe, "How Curators David Breslin and Adrienne Edwards Tackled the 2022 Whitney Biennial to Show 'What America Really Looks Like'," artnet news (March 29, 2022). Simone Leigh, Sovereignty, Official U.S. Presentation, 59th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, April 23–November 27, 2022. National Gallery of Art, Afro-Atlantic Histories, April 10–July 17, 2022. Tina M. Campt, fourth lecture in the series Image Complex: Art, Visuality & Power, University of Sydney (online lecture, October 19th, 2022, register here).

Princeton AAS Podcast S2 E07 A Painter's Eye In this episode, we sit down with the legendary historian and artist Nell Painter to discuss her career and its connections to Black Studies. From reckoning with historical figures as individuals, to her life and work at Princeton, to her own works-in-progress, this podcast has something for everyone. Our hosts dive deep into Painter's legacy and the lessons she has for our present moment. The Culture of __ "This new and 'old' artist offers a self-portrait in starting over," PBS NewsHour, July 23, 2018 "Nell Painter: Old In Art School," GBH Forum Network, July 31, 2018 The Breakdown - Guest Info Nell Irvin Painter (nellpainter.com) Nell Irvin Painter is Edwards Professor of American History, Emerita at Princeton University. She was Director of Princeton's Program in African-American Studies from 1997 to 2000. In addition to her doctorate in history from Harvard University, she has received honorary doctorates from Wesleyan, Dartmouth, SUNY-New Paltz, and Yale. Prof. Painter has published numerous books, articles, reviews, and other essays, including The History of White People. She has served on numerous editorial boards and as an officer of many different professional organizations, including the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, the American Antiquarian Society, the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, and the Association of Black Women Historians. Nell Painter (the painter formerly known as the historian Nell Irvin Painter) lives and works in Newark, New Jersey. Her work carries discursive as well as visual meaning, and is made in a manual and digital process. Using found images and digital manipulation, she reconfigures the past and self-revision through self-portraits. After a life of historical truth and political engagement with American society, her artwork represents freedom, including the freedom to be totally self-centered. See, Hear, Do "The Extraordinary Women of AAS Featuring Nell Painter," Princeton University Department of African American Studies, March 28, 2022 Nell Irvin Painter, Southern History Across the Color Line (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2021 [2002]) Nell Painter, "American Whiteness Since Trump," James Fuentes Gallery, 2020 "Nell Painter and Black Power in Print," Museum of Fine Arts Boston, November 15, 2021 "Nell Irvin Painter to Deliver the Charles Homer Haskins Prize Lecture," American Council of Learned Societies Annual Meeting, Friday, April 29, 2022 @ 6:00 PM EST (registration in link)