Black Studies Resources

The Five Demands Film

In April 1969, a small group of Black and Puerto Rican students shut down the City College of New York, an elite public university located right in the heart of Harlem. Fueled by the revolutionary fervor sweeping the nation, the strike soon turned into an uprising, leading to the extended occupation of the campus, classes being canceled, students being arrested, and the resignation of the college president. Through archival footage and modern-day interviews, we follow the students’ struggle against the institutional racism that, for over a century, had shut out people of color from this and other public universities. The Five Demands revisits the untold story of this explosive student takeover, and proves that a handful of ordinary citizens can band together to take action and effect meaningful change.

A negotiating body of Black and Puerto Rican students at CCNY put forward five demands to transform their school. They were:

1. A separate school of Black and Puerto Rican Studies
2. A separate orientation program for Black and Puerto Rican students
3. A voice for SEEK students in the setting of all guidelines for the SEEK program, including the hiring and firing of all personnel
4. That the racial composition of all entering classes reflect the Black and Puerto Rican population of New York City’s high schools
5. That Black and Puerto Rican history and Spanish language be a requirement for all Education majors

The Five Demands Film will soon be released on PBS, and further information can be found on the film's website.

Learn More About The Five Demands Film

Black Studies Department Cross-listed Courses Form

Dear CCNY Colleagues, 

Thank you for your interest in cross-listing a course with the Black Studies Department. 

As one of the oldest Black Studies initiatives in the United States, Black Studies (BLST) is concerned with the African, African-American, and the global African diaspora communities, with a special focus on transnational perspectives in relation to the U.S. and the Black world. Please use this form to submit a request to cross-list a course with our Department. 

In preparation to submit materials, consider the Black Studies Department Mission and how the proposed course aligns with this academic discipline. All forms will be reviewed by our Department, and submission does not guarantee acceptance. For examples of previously cross-listed courses, please review these sample syllabi. 

We look forward to working with you, and we thank you for your support of the Black Studies Department!

Submit Black Studies Department Cross-listed Courses Form