Launched on October 15, “DAAS@55: A Journey Through Our History” is a new multimedia exhibition at GalleryDAAS celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS). On display through November 26, 2025, the exhibit is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Haven Hall G648.
Visitors can explore timelines showcasing the department’s milestones, landmark conferences and symposia, and esteemed leadership, all reflecting DAAS’ ongoing commitment to academic excellence and social justice. The exhibition traces more than five decades of DAAS’ evolution, from its founding during the rise of student activism in the late 1960s to its present role as a cornerstone of scholarship, community engagement, and cultural expression.“DAAS@55” brings history to life through photographs, art displays, books, and archival materials that highlight the faculty, students, and alumni who shaped the department’s legacy. Together, these elements capture the depth and dynamism of DAAS’ contributions to the university and the broader study of the African diaspora.
DAAS Program Associate Elizabeth James, who co-curated the exhibit, described the project as “a long time coming.” The COVID-19 pandemic limited the ability to plan an exhibit honoring DAAS’ 50th anniversary, but the concept of celebrating that milestone stayed with her.
“Over the years, as we held smaller exhibits, I continued collecting photographs and stories from people central to the department’s history,” James said. “DAAS means different things to different people, so we wanted to ensure that people were the features — the faces and voices behind our historical and academic legacy.”
James likened the curation process to making gumbo: “You gather the ingredients, let them simmer, and let the flavors develop over time. That’s how this exhibit came together — slowly, thoughtfully, and with love, to truly showcase all that DAAS is.”
The exhibit also highlights the evolution of DAAS alongside national and global social and political movements, connecting the department's milestones to broader moments in history.
“DAAS is a microcosm of what happens on both the national and international stage,” James explained. “We are deeply engaged with the African diaspora, and there’s no part of the world that the diaspora hasn’t touched.” She pointed to milestones such as Nelson Mandela’s release and the legacy of Walter Rodney, a scholar and activist who once studied at Michigan, as reminders of how DAAS is linked to global movements.
“It amazes me to think about the people who’ve walked through our doors, like Alice Walker, who sat with students over lunch to discuss creativity and activism,” James reflected. “These stories remind us that DAAS isn’t just about big names; it’s also about our students, faculty, and staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes.” The department’s history, she noted, is inseparable from campus, national, and international events, with faculty whose work engages with issues ranging from political crises in Sudan to cultural movements across Ghana and the Caribbean. “Recognizing this global interconnectedness is essential,” she said.
Looking toward the future, James expressed excitement. “The beauty of working in higher education is that it’s impossible to be stagnant,” she said. “DAAS will continue to evolve and grow. As we study our ancestors and the knowledge they left behind, we’re creating a foundation for our descendants. Understanding our past helps explain the world we live in today — from health disparities to cultural achievements. DAAS thrives because it’s interdisciplinary, bridging everything from astronomy to zoology, and that gives us endless opportunities to learn and grow.”
“DAAS@55” features a painting of the original Center for Afroamerican and African Studies (CAAS) location. Painted by Milton Kemnitz, the house, with its exterior adorned with colorful murals by the late DAAS Professor Jon Onye Lockard and his students, is eye-catching and prompts reflection on the long history of resilience and radiance that CAAS embodies; despite the original CAAS building being destroyed by fire, CAAS has never faltered but instead adapted and evolved, with the painting of the building serving as a lasting symbol of that resilience.
Another DAAS faculty member featured in the exhibit is Associate Professor Stephen Ward, whose books are displayed on a bookshelf of faculty publications. Ward is the author of In Love and Struggle: The Revolutionary Lives of James and Grace Lee Boggs (2016) and the editor of Pages From a Black Radical's Notebook: A James Boggs Reader (2011). On September 17, Ward served as the inaugural speaker for DAAS’ Faculty Forum, a celebratory series of monthly talks by DAAS faculty in honor of the department’s 55th anniversary year. The DAAS conference room was filled with the unmistakable groove of Funkadelic’s “Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow.” The song, released in 1970 — the same year the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS) was founded — framed Ward’s talk as both a historical reflection and a call to action. He connected the song’s message of liberation through consciousness to DAAS’ origins amid the radical energy of the late 1960s, when figures like Richard Ross fought to introduce Black history courses and students demanded intellectual spaces rooted in self-determination and pride. Drawing on moments such as the Detroit Uprising of 1967, campus teach-ins at Angell Hall, and national activism, Ward traced how DAAS emerged not just as an academic department but as a movement linking scholarship, culture, and political struggle.
Ward urged attendees to see the department’s history as a living challenge to complacency. In an era when DEI initiatives are being rolled back, he argued, the founding spirit of Black studies, rooted in critique, solidarity, and transformation, must be renewed. Ward’s talk, titled “Free Your Mind and DAAS Will Follow,” captured that ethos: freedom begins in the imagination but demands institutional and social action. As the final notes of Funkadelic faded, the audience left with a renewed sense that DAAS’ story is ongoing, a testament to the enduring power of Black thought to inspire change and reimagine the future.
For James, one of the exhibit’s most important goals is to make visitors feel connected and welcomed. “I hope visitors leave with the sense that everyone is welcome here,” she said.
“Humanity began in Africa, the motherland, and that means we all belong. This department is vital in reminding us that out of many, there is one people.” She emphasized that excellence is central to DAAS’s mission and that the field itself is “vast, profound, and ever-expanding.” Her advice to newcomers is simple: “Take a DAAS class. Learn about our faculty, studying everything from environmental issues in Madagascar to political theory in Germany. Every part of this work is connected through the African diaspora, and that’s why it’s extraordinary.”
Reflecting on the department’s impact, James shared a quote from Professor Sandra Gunning that resonates deeply with her: “When you understand DAAS, you understand the world.” Smiling, she added, “I believe that’s true.”
The “DAAS@55” exhibit offers more than a look back. It is an invitation to engage with the living legacy of the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies. Each photograph, artifact, and story reflects the department’s endurance, pursuit of liberation, knowledge, and transformation, reminding visitors that DAAS’ past is inseparable from its present and future. Akin to the grand sequoia tree, with its branches stretching for the sun and roots interconnecting below. The Sequoia is resilient, sturdy, and long-lasting, nurturing its roots and growing alongside its community. “DAAS@55” promises an experience that is both educational and deeply moving.
