San Diego State University Africana Studies professor Ajani Brown has seen it all before, so he has some advice for his young students who are seeing blackface dominating headlines.

“Don’t get angry,” he said. “Get educated.”

Brown had discussed blackface with the students in his “Black Images in Film” class before the national conversation that’s been ignited by the recent acknowledgements by Virginia’s governor and attorney general that they had worn blackface as students in the 1980s.

San Diego State University Professor Ajani Brown. (Courtesy photo)


He discussed it on his students’ first day of class when Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring weren’t household names. Now the politicians are trying to hold onto their jobs amid growing criticism and calls to step down as the specter of racism has reared its head again in Virginia.

Subsequently, the Republican Majority leader in Virginia’s Senate, Thomas K. Norment, was also found to have edited a college yearbook which included photo with blackface, plunging the state into further political turmoil.

Brown wasn’t surprised by these revelations. “It did not surprise me because we’ve seen this before,” he said.

Now he’s using the situation as an opportunity to talk about blackface and racism again. His areas of expertise include visual communication as well as African and African American contributions to science fiction, comic book art, pop culture and its origins and influences so he’s well versed in African American imagery in society.


“Just understand where it came from,” he said in an interview with The Conversation podcast. “Have the courage to have a conversation. Understand that there’s a time and place to have the discussion but do your research. Please read books, read about American history. This is part of American history.”

Thanks to Brown, we’re having that conversation. Please join our podcast and listen in.

In our discussion with Brown, we talked about the history of blackface, the impact these photos can have on a community and the state of black art and imagery in 2019 when this year’s Oscar contenders include “Green Book,” “If Beale Street Could Talk,” “Black Klansman” and “Black Panther.”


“Unfortunately all of American history is not fun and enjoyable, some of it is dark and ugly,” he said. “But it’s our history so once you understand our history you’ll be able to move forward with how you react in the future to something like this.”

Subscribe to The Conversation podcast

The Conversation with Abby & Luis is a podcast that slows down the news cycle to make sense of issues and stories that matter to listeners in San Diego and beyond. We talk to news makers, experts and others to offer interesting, in-depth conversations that will keep you up to date and informed.

Check out some of our most recent episodes below, or subscribe on Apple or Stitcher.


Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin