Chimaobi Amutah

What is your favorite memory of your experience in the Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS)?

My favorite experience in the department thus far has been my experience in the African language program that the department offers. I have taken Igbo for two years in the department and the course is taught in very small groups with two to five students and an instructor. The language instruction is intensive and is fused with cultural and political discussions that give the language that much more depth. Through the African language program I have had extensive experience reading, writing, and speaking Igbo to a degree far beyond what most universities offer students. My family in Nigeria as well as my family here in the US is very impressed with my development of my Igbo linguistic skills.

What was your favorite course that you took in the AAAS Department?

My favorite course thus far has been my junior tutorial. I was able to develop my own syllabus and theme and worked at my own pace to complete my coursework. My topic was African socialism and although I went in thinking that I knew a good amount of information about the subject I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did not know nearly as much as I originally thought. This provided me with an invaluable learning experience as I was able to formulate research proposals and carry out those research interests to satiate my hunger for understanding African socialism both historically and theoretically as well as practically.

What is the most exciting or interesting thing about African and African American Studies?

The most exciting thing about African and African American Studies is the breadth of the topic at hand. From the very beginnings of human development life existed on Africa. It is the cradle of civilization and host to some of the most illustrious, artistic, scientifically advanced, and historically relevant societies of all-time. From the study of ancient Kush and Nubia as well as figures such as Imhotep and Hannibal to the more contemporary exploration of topics such as Black voter behavior in the US, hip-hop culture, and Marxism as it relates to race African and African-American Studies covers a wide range of topics, time periods, and regions. Additionally, in studying an entire continent, Diaspora and race of people numbering around one billion individuals worldwide the inherent diversity entailed in African and African American Studies piqued my interest far beyond that of other concentrations or scholarly pursuits.

Was there anything that surprised you about your experience in the Department?

I was very surprised that there was such a great ratio of faculty members to concentrators. As it currently stands there are almost as many faculty members in the department as there are concentrators. This fact surprised me in light of my understanding of most other departments and the fact that there is often a lack of professors to whom undergraduates have access. This is not the case in AAAS as almost anyone can find at least one professor, possible numerous one, that deal with one’s research interests and who are available to act as inspiration for concentrators. All of this is not to mention the fact that the faculty of the African and African American Studies department is more diverse than most other departments at Harvard in terms of race and gender.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

After graduation I plan to attend graduate school in education and teach in an inner-city or rural, predominantly Black public school system such as the one I grew up in. I want to teach World History with an emphasis on African history, culture, and politics. With this I hope to teach Black students in the US about the historic, cultural, and still existent ties and similarities between them and Blacks in Africa and Latin America. Hopefully this will infuse in Blacks in the US a sense of purpose and worth beyond what the media, government, or society seems interested in fostering. I hope to become principal of a public high school and down the line I hope to have my own independent school or numerous independent schools.