23-02-2025
Learning about Black superheroes, how Black History shaped them
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the past, celebrate achievements, and educate ourselves on the contributions of black Americans throughout history.
At the University of Scranton, Dr. Melissa Anyiwo is leading the way, combining education and creativity to engage students and the community in meaningful conversations.
Dr. Anyiwo is the director of the Black Studies Program at the University of Scranton and a professor who's redefining how we approach black history.
'I think the biggest part is celebrating black success, so I think that we often focus on only the bad things that happened in America's past, and what I tend to focus on is the ways in which people of African descent have excelled and exceeded in America, and that's really driven my teaching,' Dr. Anyiwo explained.
This semester, her students are diving into courses such as 'Black American Superheroes.'
'The four core superheroes, so Black Panther, Luke Cage, Blade, and then Black Lighting. This concept that there are people in the world that have skills that go beyond, or beliefs that go beyond what the rest of us are willing to do, right? So what are you willing to do to make the world a better place?' Dr. Anyiwo continued.
Dr. Anyiwo says the class allows students to take a journey through US history and social justice, and learn about the intersection of representation, identity, and storytelling.
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'We look at them as they've changed over time and those core moments of change for specific historical moments. So, for example, when the Black Panther movement begins, that's when the character Black Panther begins. In the 1970s when we look at blacksploitation, that's when Luke Cage begins. So thinking about the Vietnam War, that's when we see a character like Pow-Man or Luke Cage,' Dr. Anyiwo continued.
When the start of February begins, she weaves Black History Month into her classes.
'Every class we start with some black music,' said Dr. Anyiwo.
The goal is once students hear the sounds of black artists, they are already in the headspace of discussing the black experience.
'It's the idea of making it a normal thing in their classes. It's not just the 'black thing,' but in Black History Month, we try to focus on it a little bit more so it becomes something that's in the front of their head all the time,' Dr. Anyiwo explained.
She focuses her classes on deconstructing the stigma of black history.
'I think when we think of Black History Month, we think racism, but that's the last thing I'm focusing on right? Instead, we wanna focus on the stories and the lives of actual real lived people,' Dr. Anyiwo added.
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Dr. Anyiwo is encouraging her students to dive into a culture and experience something different
'I want you to go watch that movie, I want you to go play with those dolls, or take your kid to that event, because it broadens your horizons, it broadens your view of the world, if only for a minute, right? You can look away at the end of the month, but for those 28 days, it's just a really great opportunity to see something different,' Dr. Anyiwo said.
Dr. Anyiwo is always advocating for students of color to learn more about their identity, which is exactly what the Black Students' Union Group (BSU) embodies
'One of the things we have at this school that is really fantastic is the Black Students' Union, which is a group of really dedicated students who are committed to learning about themselves, and then teaching others about themselves,' Dr. Anyiwo stated.
The BSU allows people of color to unite, educate, and celebrate.
'Well for me, it's very important to build community. So having spaces like the BSU, the Multicultural Center, it was a way for students of color to come together, but mostly black people to come together, and realize we're not alone here on this campus, and like, the events we host is ways for us to also educate, but also for us to come together and celebrate us,' said University of Scranton student Serena Martin.
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