Inclusive Scholarship: Developing Black Studies - Ford Foundation

Inclusive Scholarship: Developing Black Studies in the United States 137
schools, more than ever what we mean is that they support African American
Studies programs that are genuinely vital and comprehensive.
Everyone we asked about where best to target the next round of grants
said to keep funding the programs that already were working well. (Here of
course they meant to keep funding themselves.) On the question of how to
broaden the circle of grantees, we often heard of ideas to build connections
across a city or, a region—partnerships that would help in the process of
sharing limited resources. In this way, schools not automatically on the list
of strong Black Studies centers—but which are not without some important
strengths—could be brought under Ford’s sponsorship.
For example, a metropolitan Washington, D.C., grant might join the
University of Maryland’s excellent Black Studies structures with the resources
of American, Catholic, George Mason, George Washington,
Howard, and UDC. Perhaps the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, or
the National Gallery—just to mention a few obvious possibilities—would
be interested in such a consortial partnership. Similarly, Los Angeles, the
Bay Area, Boston, New York, or Philadelphia consortia could spread the
Black Studies wealth in a way that is creative and broadly enriching. In this
way, too, historically Black colleges and universities—some of which have
been singularly unenthusiastic about the Black Studies revolution and
some that have nurtured significant Black Studies scholars and special library
holdings in the field—could be brought into the picture as participants
and potential leaders.
Projects could choose such year-long themes as “Black Modernism,”
“Black Music and Its Impact on the American Culture,”“From Critical Discourse
to Course Design in Black Studies,”“Black Expression and the Public
Sphere,” or “New World Africanism: Looking at the Audience.” On the
D.C. scene, a subject like “Home Rule and the Politics of Race in Washington”
would be most appropriate. With someone like Mary Helen Washington
(at Maryland) as the leader, a city-wide planning session could be
devised. Black Studies faculty—convened at Professor Washington’s invitation—could
iron out a precise topic and share responsibilities.
One or two scholars specializing in the topic could be invited to spend
a year in Washington; perhaps each visitor could be housed at Maryland