Recently, four graduates of Africana Studies, Rae'Vonne Barnes, Tonaysia Price, Malik Tropez, and Tia Wilson have completed a diverse array of senior thesis projects for 2021, all the while, earning internships for the year 2021. They have worked so hard on these projects for the last year of 2020-2021. The Department of Africana Studies is honored and proud to recognize these seniors and their dedication to the Africana Studies' field.
Rae'Vonne Barnes: Rap Gets a Bad Rap: The Effects of Rap on Mental Health Stigma
"My research project seeks to understand rap as a form of music therapy. It includes a questionnaire and a qualitative interview to determine the amount of mental health stigma at the University of Notre Dame and whether gangsta rap and confessional rap can decrease that mental health stigma and increase the likelihood of students seeking professional mental health help..."
Tonaysia Price: Initiative on Race and Resilience
"My yearlong senior capstone allowed for what Paolo Freire coined “praxis,” putting theory to practice. Over the course of the year, I assisted Mark Sanders, director of the Initiative on Race and Resilience, with research, benchmarking, and outreach projects related to the University’s newest efforts on race, racial identity, and resilience..."
Malik Tropez: Design for Good: Sharing the Readiness Center with the World
"My project is a collaboration with the Readiness Center in Benton Harbor, Michigan, an early childhood and family programming center serving historically under-resourced families. Working to combine my expertise in Africana studies and collaborative design, I assisted the Readiness Center with new and expanded graphic art, including logos and communication designs..."
Tia Wilson: Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship: Empowering Students from Diverse Backgrounds
"This project is a collaboration with the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship in St. Louis, Missouri. Through the collaboration, I was able to apply my understanding of the experiences of African American youth and how they relate to entrepreneurial activities and outlets for youth. Through student coaching, research, social media management, and grant writing, I used the skills and knowledge I gained in Africana studies to support the nonprofit’s mission and
constituent groups..."
Click here for the presentation: 2021 Senior Thesis Presentation For Africana