National Council for Black Studies

The National Council for Black Studies (NCBS) is a United States not-for-profit professional organization devoted to developing and strengthening Africana, African American, and Black Studies. Founded in 1975 by Bertha Maxwell-Roddey, the founding director of the Black Studies/Afro-American and African Studies Program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the council emerged during a period when student activism, the Civil Rights Movement, and demands for more inclusive curricula were reshaping higher education. NCBS was created to give scholars, educators, and community practitioners a national institutional network for a field that was still establishing its academic legitimacy. Its founding philosophy linked academic excellence with social responsibility. Rather than treating Black Studies solely as a specialized university subject, the council has approached the field as an interdisciplinary study of African peoples, African-descended communities, and the wider African World experience. Its work encompasses historical, cultural, political, social, economic, and educational questions. The organization’s intellectual background is closely connected to Maxwell-Roddey’s work at UNC Charlotte. That university’s Black Studies program was designed to respond to the academic, social, intellectual, and economic needs of Black students while also connecting university learning with community service and research. The program used a staged educational model addressing identity, purpose, origins, and future direction. Its interdisciplinary and community-oriented structure helped inform the philosophy and operating aims of NCBS. NCBS serves multiple educational levels. Its stated activities include supporting Africana Studies in universities and colleges, helping develop multicultural curricula and instructional materials for K-12 schools and higher education, encouraging African-centered research, improving public access to information about Pan-African life and culture, and advising policymakers in education, government, and community development. It also promotes professional networks, recruitment of Black scholars, international connections among Africana Studies academics, and broader efforts aimed at the empowerment of African peoples. The council’s activities extend beyond conventional academic advocacy. It has offered consultation and other professional services, supported community-oriented initiatives, and maintained a grant opportunity for members seeking to bring African Studies to local communities or develop new leadership and scholarship. Its work has also intersected with public policy and curriculum debates, including efforts associated with California Africana Studies legislation. Former NCBS member and president Shirley Weber was identified in connection with those efforts. NCBS has been associated with several institutional locations over time. It was previously based at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has more recently been housed at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. The organization’s public profile also includes connections to prominent scholars and cultural figures in the field, including Maulana Karenga, a former or current board-associated figure identified as chair of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach and as the founder of Kwanzaa. NCBS’s present work is best understood as that of a professional and educational network supporting the continued institutionalization, public relevance, and community reach of Black Studies.

The National Council for Black Studies was founded in 1975 in the context of the United States Civil Rights Movement and the expansion of Black Studies programs in higher education. During the late 1960s, students and educators increasingly challenged universities to recognize African American history, culture, and intellectual traditions within formal curricula. Campus movements in 1968 and 1969, together with ideas associated with the Black University concept, encouraged the establishment of courses and programs centered on Africa and the African diaspora. A national conference for Black teachers held in April 1968 was part of this broader climate of educational organizing. Bertha Maxwell-Roddey played the central founding role in creating NCBS. Before establishing the council, she led the Black Studies/Afro-American and African Studies Program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her work at UNC Charlotte provided both a practical model and an intellectual foundation for the national organization. Maxwell-Roddey was among the university’s earliest Black full-time professors and also helped establish the Afro-American Cultural Center in North Carolina, an institution later known as the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. The UNC Charlotte program was designed to address the academic, intellectual, social, and economic dimensions of Black student life. Its curriculum was organized into four broad phases: identity, purpose, historical origins, and future direction. Introductory stages focused on orientation and survey learning, while advanced stages incorporated research. Community service formed part of the program at every level. The program’s interdisciplinary structure sought to benefit the surrounding community while operating in cooperation with the university as a whole. Student, cultural, athletic, governmental, and historically Black Greek organizations were among the groups connected with the program. NCBS carried this community-linked and interdisciplinary philosophy into a national professional setting. Its original purpose was to expand and strengthen academic departments, programs, and community initiatives concerned with African American and African diaspora studies. The council also sought to help Black Studies develop as a recognized and respected academic discipline. Its guiding principle connected educational achievement with social responsibility, placing scholarship alongside public engagement and community advancement. Over time, the council’s mission broadened to include multiple levels of education and public life. It has supported the recruitment of Black scholars, assisted schools and higher education institutions with multicultural curriculum development, promoted African-centered research, and sought to make information about Pan-African life and culture more accessible to the public. It has also described a role in advising policymakers on education, government, and community development, maintaining international links among scholars, and advancing the empowerment of African peoples. NCBS has had institutional ties to more than one university location. Its earlier location was the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, while later descriptions identify the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, as its host institution. The organization has also been associated with scholars involved in wider cultural and educational movements. Maulana Karenga, identified as a board member and chair of an Africana Studies department at California State University, Long Beach, is known as the founder of Kwanzaa. Shirley Weber, identified as a former NCBS president and member, has been connected with efforts concerning California Africana Studies legislation. In addition to conferences, professional support, consultation, and educational advocacy, NCBS has maintained a community grant opportunity for members. The grants have been described as helping emerging leaders and scholars introduce African Studies initiatives to communities. Through these activities, the council continues to function as a professional association linking university scholarship, school curriculum, public education, policy discussion, and community development.

• 1975

  National Council for Black Studies founded

  [1]National Council for Black Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  Bertha Maxwell-Roddey founded NCBS as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing Black Studies.

• 1968

  National conference for Black teachers

  [1]National Council for Black Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  A national conference for Black teachers took place amid the wider educational organizing that helped create the environment for Black Studies institutions.

• 1968

  Expansion of the Black Studies movement

  [1]National Council for Black Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  Student movements and demands for more inclusive university education accelerated the creation of African American, African, and diaspora-centered courses and programs.

• Operations associated with the University of Cincinnati

  [1]National Council for Black Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  The council was previously based at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.

• Operations housed at the University of Delaware

  [1]National Council for Black Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  Later descriptions identify the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, as the council’s host institution.

A national professional and educational association positioned at the intersection of Africana Studies scholarship, curriculum development, community empowerment, and public policy. NCBS emphasizes an African-centered and interdisciplinary approach while connecting academic excellence with social responsibility.

• Academic and educational services

  Professional consultation

  NCBS provides or coordinates consultation and related professional support for institutions working on Africana Studies, Black Studies, multicultural education, scholar recruitment, and community-oriented educational programming.

• Educational resources

  Curriculum and educational materials

  The council supports the creation and implementation of multicultural education programs and materials for K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. The work is intended to include African and African diaspora experiences and contributions.

• Grants and community development

  Community grant program

  NCBS maintains a grant opportunity for members. The program has supported new leaders and scholars working to introduce or expand African Studies initiatives in communities.

• Research and public education

  Scholarly and public Africana Studies resources

  The organization promotes African-centered research and seeks to improve public access to information about Pan-African life and culture through its professional and educational network.

• Africana Studies curriculum advocacy

  United States

  NCBS has supported the development and preservation of Africana Studies curricula across K-12, community college, university, and community settings.

  Outcome. The organization’s work has contributed to the continued institutional and public promotion of Africana Studies, although a consolidated campaign outcome is not specified in the available material.

  Source
• Community grant support

  United States

  NCBS has used a member grant opportunity to encourage community-based African Studies activity and support emerging scholars and leaders.

  Outcome. The available reference states that the funding has helped bring African Studies to various communities.

  Source

• 1975

  Creation of a national Black Studies professional associationStrategy

  Background

  Black Studies programs and African-centered curriculum initiatives were expanding during the post-Civil Rights era, but the field was still developing its institutional standing.

  Action taken

  Bertha Maxwell-Roddey established NCBS as a not-for-profit council focused on professional development, scholarship, curriculum, and community engagement.

  Aftermath

  NCBS became a national platform for advancing Africana, African American, and Black Studies across educational and community settings.

  Source

• Expansion from university scholarship to multi-level education and public policyStrategy

  Background

  The council’s founding mission emphasized academic recognition of Black Studies while retaining a connection to social responsibility and community needs.

  Action taken

  NCBS developed activities spanning K-12 education, higher education, public resources, scholar recruitment, policymaker advice, international academic links, and community development.

  Aftermath

  The organization positioned Africana Studies as both an academic field and a resource for public education and community empowerment.

  Source

1. 1National Council for Black Studiesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2National Council for Black Studies official websitencbsonline.org