Meet some of our Black Studies students.
Marley Marshall
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Major: English minor: Black Studies
What was your motivation to pursue Black Studies (BLST)?
I have always had an interest in Black culture and Black stories as a way to connect with my own culture. When I took my first BLST course at Occidental, I felt that a whole new way of thinking about Blackness had revealed itself to me. Not only did I feel more connected to my roots, I developed a new passion for spreading the ideas Ive learned in BLST courses to my peers of all races.
Can you describe your working relationships with BLST professors?
The Black Studies professors are excellent lecturers, who really value classroom discussion and student input. The BLST professors have been nothing but helpful and motivating when it comes to giving feedback on projects and assignments, and they really encourage students to challenge themselves with the course material. Every single Black Studies professor has been crucial to my academic growth at 做厙輦⑹.
Every single Black Studies professor has been crucial to my academic growth at 做厙輦⑹.
Did you study abroad? How did it complement and/or enhance your course of study?
I studied abroad in Paris the first semester of my junior year. During my time there, I was really able to immerse myself in Black Parisian culture, as well as study the works of Black American expatriate writers and artists who migrated to Paris in the late 20th century to escape American racism. The time I spent in my BLST courses reading James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and Aim矇 Cesaire was essential to my understanding of the impact of Blackness on Parisian culture.
What do you find most compelling about studying BLST?
Studying BLST gives students of all backgrounds the opportunity to experience history from a perspective that is often overlooked. By studying ways of thinking and being within the Black diaspora, students can broaden their academic and personal worldview.
What are your ambitions post-做厙輦⑹ and how has the liberal arts approach helped to shape these ambitions?
After 做厙輦⑹, I hope to continue my work in English and Black Studies by working in editorial positions for literature and culture publications. I want to combine my passion for literature with advocacy for Black people, and I hope to increase the visibility of Black people in the media.
I want to combine my passion for literature with advocacy for Black people, and I hope to increase the visibility of Black people in the media.
Do you have any advice for a student considering BLST?
Choosing to minor in Black Studies was one of the best decisions Ive made during my time at 做厙輦⑹. I really encourage students of all races and backgrounds to involve themselves in Black Studies work as a way to better understand Black culture and history, and learn how to be proactively anti-racist.
What is the vibe of the BLST department?
The BLST department is really fun, interactive, and innovative! Its impossible to take a Black Studies class and not engage with your peers and professors in active dialogue and projects both creative and traditional.
Lyn Strober-Cohen
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Major: American Studies minor: Black Studies and history
Can you describe your working relationships with BLST professors? Are there any standout classes youve taken?
The BLST profs are the best of the best! I have taken classes with Prof. Ball (BLST 208 & BLST 268) and Prof. Ford (BLST 101). : African American History II: The Great Migration and Transformation of Culture was the first class I took in the department after hearing that I needed to take a class with Prof. Ball before I graduated. BLST 208 did not disappoint! Prof. Ball is a phenomenal professor who curated an engaging syllabus with readings about emancipation and the Great Migration. This class not only reframed my understanding of American history but also changed the way I thought about American cultural production. I will always say that BLST 208 was my favorite class at 做厙輦⑹.
The most compelling thing about BLST is that it is an interdisciplinary field. This has made my experience in the department multifaceted and added different dimensions to my learning.
What do you find most compelling about studying BLST?
Studying BLST has been a highlight of my time at 做厙輦⑹. The most compelling thing about BLST is that it is an interdisciplinary field. I have taken classes on both African American history and African American literature. This has made my experience in BLST multifaceted and added different dimensions to my learning. Additionally, the professors all have their own perspectives and subfields, which results in each class being unique and enjoyable.
Did you study abroad? How did it complement and/or enhance your education?
I went to New Zealand and studied at the University of Otago taking classes in history, geography, Mori Studies, and Pacific Studies. It aided my course of study by providing coursework that did not center on America. As an American Studies major, this may seem counterintuitive, but I wanted to learn about other indigenous groups and their histories to gain more understanding about the world at large.
Naya Woods
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Majors: Black Studies, American Studies
Can you describe your working relationships with BLST professors? Are there any standout classes youve taken?
Prof. Balls class Style Politics: Beauty and Fashion in Black Womens History truly expanded the ways I perceive fitness and self-discipline. This class delved into who is given access to the rights theoretically granted to all Americans and who is allowed to express their freedom. This class deepened and challenged my beliefs about self-expression and further developed my knowledge of Black womens freedom struggles. The guidance I have received from so many Black Studies professors has motivated me to always stay curious. I am so grateful to be able to receive so much knowledge and support. The expertise of my academic advisers has really pushed my learning, and I couldn't be more appreciative. Their mentorship has been one of the most impactful aspects of my time at 做厙輦⑹. I love going to office hours knowing that every time I will come out of it with a new perspective and a better understanding of the world. With their guidance, I have been able to reimagine Black history as an essential aspect of American history that depicts the beauty within Black liberation movements.
[Mentorship from my advisers] has been one of the most impactful aspects of my time at 做厙輦⑹. I love going to office hours knowing that every time I will come out of it with a new perspective and a better understanding of the world.
What was your motivation to major in BLST? Was there a specific inspirational moment?
After my first-year seminar Emancipation: Black Freedom in the Making with Prof. Fett, I was certain that I wanted to major in Black Studies. I recall that we were looking at primary source documents sent to the Freedmens Bureau, an 1866 letter from a white planter in Georgia demanding the immediate return of Black women to the labor force. Instead of centering solely the threat of lack of labor to white socio-political power, Prof. Fett focused on the formerly enslaved women and their desire to re-establish their bodily autonomy after gaining their emancipation. The mass departure of newly freed women from the workforce following emancipation illustrated the muted and assertive methods Black women have used to reclaim their bodies after centuries of bondage. To me, Black Studies is the investigation of Black Americans' continuous search for self-determination. Uncovering and amplifying the Black radical tradition during even the most dire eras of servitude paves the way for contemporary resistance.
Have you taken part in any student research opportunities at 做厙輦⑹?
I am currently conducting research under Prof. Fett. The experience has helped me in my analysis of primary source documents and improved my researching skills. I will carry these skills with me throughout my entire college career. Eventually, I am hoping to get my Ph.D. in Black Studies. My advice to any potential Black Studies majors would be to always push yourself to expand and shift your thinking. Learning, especially learning about Black history, is never a static or linear process. Engage with your professors and advisors with an open mind so that your thinking can always evolve.
To see more Meet Our Majors profiles, visit the main page.
