About the Center
About the Center
Southern Miss was desegregated in 1965 when Raylawni Branch and Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong became the first African American students enrolled at the University. More than fifty years of progress is evident in the wide-ranging programming, research, teaching, and service activities organized and supported by the Center for Black Studies.
The mission of the Center is two-fold:
- To promote research and provide educational opportunities related to the history and culture of African Americans and the Black Diaspora;
- Facilitate connections between the University and the various social, political, and economic entities that address Black experiences.
Support the Center
The Center for Black Studies promotes research, provide educational opportunities, and create programming that brings greater awareness to the history and culture of African Americans and of the Black Diaspora. Please consider supporting the Center in our current and future endeavors.
All contributions are managed by the USM Foundation, a separate non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to serving the campus community as a fiduciary of all private funds donated to Southern Miss. Fees and contributions are tax deductible.
If you have any questions about supporting the Center for Black Studies, please contact the administrators:
