posted
Just something that crossed my mind as a topic of discussion, but is there a reason that HBCUs(historically black colleges and universities) don't have Egyptology or Nubiology departments proper? While I'm sure Egypt/Nubia are brought up in African studies classes, why not have departments specifically dedicated to those two regions ala Western classical departments with their numerous classes on aspects of Greece and Rome? While understanding the historical domination(and racism) of these disciplines by Europeans, just seems odd that I can't find an Egyptology or Nubiology program at a single HBCU Posts: 574 | From: Guinee | Registered: Jul 2014
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quote:Originally posted by Punos_Rey: J ust something that crossed my mind as a topic of discussion, but is there a reason that HBCUs(historically black colleges and universities) don't have Egyptology or Nubiology departments proper? While I'm sure Egypt/Nubia are brought up in African studies classes, why not have departments specifically dedicated to those two regions ala Western classical departments with their numerous classes on aspects of Greece and Rome? While understanding the historical domination(and racism) of these disciplines by Europeans, just seems odd that I can't find an Egyptology or Nubiology program at a single HBCU
It's not a bad idea for black academia to try to reclaim what is rightfully their heritage the same way white academia steadfastly holds on to Greece and Rome; however, we all know that once HBCUs start doing this there will be a backlash from the mainstream (white) academia that all these are nothing more than "Afrocentric" black studies yada, yada. But as Truthcentric put it, who cares?! F*rget them! If you know what I mean. As long as you have truth and facts on your side, that is all that matters.
Posts: 26295 | From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Punos_Rey: Just something that crossed my mind as a topic of discussion, but is there a reason that HBCUs(historically black colleges and universities) don't have Egyptology or Nubiology departments proper? While I'm sure Egypt/Nubia are brought up in African studies classes, why not have departments specifically dedicated to those two regions ala Western classical departments with their numerous classes on aspects of Greece and Rome? While understanding the historical domination(and racism) of these disciplines by Europeans, just seems odd that I can't find an Egyptology or Nubiology program at a single HBCU
Its not odd at all. The glaringly obvious answer is money and competing priorities. Many HBCUs don't have a lot of cash. If they had, say 10 million to spend they would be foolish to put it into such very narrow, specialized things like Egyptology or Nubiology versus things in demand like engineering or health, which will attract more students. Egyptology or Nubiology can always be covered in various elective courses, or by allocating space for study groups or centers on campus. This is nothing unusual. Small white colleges aren't big on Egyptology or Nubiology either. Study centers, institutes and specialized libraries can handle the info effectively without diverting scarce dollars or expensive spending on completely separate departments. curricula and professional staff in those narrow fields. Matter of fact most big white universities do NOT offer any degrees in Egyptology either. If they shy away, why should tiny HBCUs with a fraction of the resources available plunge in?
Posts: 5905 | From: The Hammer | Registered: Aug 2008
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^fair enough Zarahan thats a very thorough answer I just approached it from the point of view of treating those two fields like western universities treat greece/Rome with their classics departments but you made it pretty clear why thats unfeasible :/
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Meet on the Level, act upon the Plumb, part on the Square. Posts: 574 | From: Guinee | Registered: Jul 2014
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quote:Originally posted by Punos_Rey: Just something that crossed my mind as a topic of discussion, but is there a reason that HBCUs(historically black colleges and universities) don't have Egyptology or Nubiology departments proper? While I'm sure Egypt/Nubia are brought up in African studies classes, why not have departments specifically dedicated to those two regions ala Western classical departments with their numerous classes on aspects of Greece and Rome? While understanding the historical domination(and racism) of these disciplines by Europeans, just seems odd that I can't find an Egyptology or Nubiology program at a single HBCU
I believe that they don't have African studies departments either.
Money should not matter. It shows that HBCUs really don't care about the history of Black people.The sad thing about the whole matter is that they have not even hired one professor competent enough to even teach a course in this area or lead a study group and seminar.
posted
^several do Dr. Winters but such programs are always subject to the chopping block when hbcus are forced to cut programs.
But yeah I got Zarahans post too but the comment about the lack of egyptology programs at most big white universities is a non-starter anyway as the point here was for egyptology/nubiology to be looked at by HBCUs as classics programs (Greece/Rome) are by big white universities. Many big white universities DO still have classics programs entirely devoted to greece and rome and indeed so do several small white colleges and even preparatory schools (theres several schools at several levels of education in the area I went to college at that have classics departments). With all the continuing evidence mounting for African Egypt I wouldn't be surprised to see those pwis that still have egyptology programs lose interest.
Hopefully my intent with this query is a little more clear now
Posts: 574 | From: Guinee | Registered: Jul 2014
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posted
Clyde says: Money should not matter. It shows that HBCUs really don't care about the history of Black people.The sad thing about the whole matter is that they have not even hired one professor competent enough to even teach a course in this area or lead a study group and seminar.
Unfortunately in the REAL world, money DOES matter. Egyptology is a very specialized, narrow field of study. Why should a HBCU already short on cash blow precious resources on a field that most WHITE universities don't do anything with either? That's just plain illogical. And in fact, at many HBCUs students have African studies departments, classes on Egypt, and study centers where they can research Egypt and Nubia to their hearts content. As for hiring professors on Egyptology, good professors in that narrow field are not only scarce, but they also have to be PAID big enough for them to leave big institutions that can support these narrow specialties, to move to small, no-name HBCUs. That takes, guess what? M-o-n-e-y..
Punos says: egyptology/nubiology to be looked at by HBCUs as classics programs (Greece/Rome) are by big white universities. Many big white universities DO still have classics programs entirely devoted to greece and rome and indeed so do several small white colleges and even preparatory schools (theres several schools at several levels of education
Sure, and one of the reasons they can do so is that teaching about Greco/Roman classics is a lot cheaper, because of widely available materials, and there are a ton of people who can do that competently, compared to the people available who can do the same with Nubiology or Egyptology. How many people are out there who can read hieroglyphics, compared to people who can read Greek for example? And study of Greece/Rome classics is a very old discipline, much older than Egyptology which only substantially assumed status of a formal academic discipline within institutions in the late 1800s. It thus has a lot more older, institutional support along with money, which in the real world, does matter.
Posts: 5905 | From: The Hammer | Registered: Aug 2008
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