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African American Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that explores the history, culture, and contributions of people of African descent in the United States and across the African diaspora. Through an interdisciplinary lens—drawing on history, sociology, literature, religion, and more—the discipline reveals both the complexity and the unity of Black experiences, from the legacy of resistance and resilience to the ongoing influence of African heritage on contemporary life.
This Library Research Guide will provide information about and access to some of the most significant research materials available from McFarlin Library related to African American Studies. The tabs above cover research options such as:
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Selecting a research topic is much like deciding on a travel destination. Once you have narrowed your ideas to an interesting subject, write down a brief statement about this topic. For example: "Rock groups of the 60s, their popularity and major influence on the music industry." Once the topic is selected, write down specific questions that you'll want to answer. The research process will drive your destination. Your original topic may develop into something entirely different. You may choose to follow an alternate path and go down a different road.
After determining the topic, you can map out your route. You must identify the types of sources that will provide the information needed, then determine where to find these sources. Types of sources that should be considered include books, periodicals, the Internet, and other libraries (through interlibrary loan).
The key to finding books is the online library catalog called Discovery. Search in Discovery by selecting a keyword that best describes your topic. You can also search by title, author, subject, or keyword. In addition to books, the catalog allows you to search for periodicals, government documents, audiovisual material, and Special Collections.
If you get lost during your sight-seeing trip, stop and ask directions. The following reference sources will be most useful to acquire quick answers to any questions you may have.
Begin with Encyclopedias, then to get off the main drag, use Subject Encyclopedias.
What does it mean? Use a Dictionary.
How much, how many? Find Statistical Information.
Who? Find Biographical Information.
How can I get in touch? Use a Directory.
Where do I go from here? Bibliographies.
Periodicals include newspapers, magazines, and journals. They are published regularly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly. Journals are periodicals containing articles written by experts in a particular field of study. If the researcher wrote the article, is it a primary source. If reporters write the article, such as in popular magazines, it is a secondary source. Typically, journal articles contain extensive bibliographies that lead to additional sources.
Journal List - If there is a specific journal that you are looking for, this will take you directly to McFarlin's holdings.
Discovery - If there is a specific article that you are looking for, you can search Summon with that article's title.
Database List - If you don't have a specific journal or article in mind, then McFarlin's databases will allow you to search multiple journals with a keyword.
African American Studies majors produce a diverse array of writing that reflects the field’s interdisciplinary nature and its commitment to exploring Black experiences, histories, and cultures. The types of writing assignments typically include:
Research Papers
Students conduct independent research on topics such as abolitionism, affirmative action, African American literature, and social movements, analyzing primary and secondary sources to develop and support original arguments.
Essays
These range from short, reflective pieces to longer analytical essays that require students to interpret texts, events, or cultural phenomena within historical and contemporary contexts.
Literature Reviews
Students synthesize existing scholarship on a particular topic, demonstrating their ability to engage with and critique academic debates.
Policy Analysis and Advocacy
Some assignments require students to critique or propose policy solutions, reflecting the field’s emphasis on social justice and real-world impact.
Comparative and Interdisciplinary Essays
Students often blend methods and perspectives from history, sociology, literature, and political science to address complex issues affecting African and African-descended peoples.
Critical Reflections
Students write about their own experiences or responses to course materials, often connecting personal insights to broader social and historical issues.
In African American Studies, as in other fields of study, it is very important that you cite the sources that you use to form and articulate your ideas. In African American Studies writing, several citation styles may be used:
If you don't know which citation style to use, ask your professor.
For an excellent and free citation management software option, check out our page on Zotero.
For a quick and easy citation generator, try ZBib by Zotero.
