The University of Delaware, home to the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS), is spearheading a project to expand the NCBS Honor Society with university chapters. This initiative, led by NCBS Executive Director and UD Professor Alicia Fontnette, started with 10 undergraduates. These students were selected for their commitment to Africana studies, community service, and academic performance. The university plans to develop initiatives for global chapters, including community service and research opportunities.
Razan Abdullah, a charter member and Newark native, shared her experience as an NCBS Honor Society member. After an introductory course with Professor Jorge Serrano, she changed her major to Africana studies. Abdullah emphasized two courses that reshaped her understanding of race and its societal role. The first course, taught by Professor Brandon Stanford, challenged her previous belief that race was biological, demonstrating it as a social construct. The second course analyzed how racism is ingrained in government and legal systems.