Organizing Black America: An Encyclopedia of African American Associations
National Association of African American Studies
The National Association of African American Studies (NAAS) was founded by Lemuel Berry Jr. in 1993. NAAS is a scholarly organization that provides a forum for those who conduct research in black history and culture. It also serves as a medium for celebrating the achievements of African Americans. For these purposes the association publishes a newsletter and holds annual conventions at which students and scholars present their research. The annual meetings also feature several days of exhibits and programs celebrating African American life, culture, and history. In addition to fostering scholarly research, the NAAS also aims to stimulate public interest in African American studies and encourages the preservation of African American history in archives.
Each year the association honors an outstanding African American humanist or social scientist, presenting the honoree with a special medallion. The medallion, designed by a professional artist who was a founding member of NAAS, symbolizes the scholars ceaseless search for truth and wisdom. The first recipient was L.Douglas Wilder, the first African American governor of Virginia.
The association has five classes of members: student, individual, sustaining donor, life, and honorary.
In 1997 NAAS had more than four hundred members. The association is headed by an executive director with offices at Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky. The organization maintains a database of African American history and culture, and has electronic publishing capabilities. In the future, NAAS plans to expand membership on the editorial board of the newsletter.
FURTHER READINGS
National Association of African American Studies. The Constitution. Morehead, Ky.: National Association of African American Studies, n.d.
——. Fact Sheet. Morehead, Ky: National Association of African American Studies, n.d.
——. “The Dream Becomes a Reality.” National Association of African American Studies, n.d.
——. Proceedings. National Association of African American Studies, 1993–.
Joseph T.Durham
This is the complete article, containing 293 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
View More Summaries on African American
