Remembering her enlightening trip to Ghana this semester, Nancy Dawson displays photos of the cultural music, dance and food she encountered, which she says every African-American student should experience.

Realizing that many African-American students have not traveled to Africa, Dawson, an assistant professor in Black American Studies, is pushing a plan that would allow SIUC students to visit Ghana as part of the study abroad program.

Ghana is a West African nation with a population of more than 17 million.

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The reason I developed this program was because of students’ interests, Dawson said. And they will learn how African-Americans can connect world-wide.

The proposed program, African Cultural Continuities, is a four-week summer study abroad program designed to introduce students to the similarities in Ghanaian cultural practices and the culture of the other peoples of the African Diaspora.

While in Ghana, students will visit several landmarks, including old slave castles and the home of W.E.B. Dubois, the first African-American to receive a Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1896.

I’ve been all over Africa, and I find the activities similar to those African-Americans practice here, Dawson said. You see religious ceremonies, the dancing, food and music. And I think experimental education is the best kind of education.

Tom Saville, coordinator of the study abroad program, said he is receptive toward Dawson’s proposal for a trip to Ghana. This will be the first study abroad program for Ghana.

Like other study abroad programs, an excursion to Ghana would provide an experience of survival skills and open-mindedness.

What’s interesting is that we haven’t had any programs in Africa, Saville said. And it’s not just the black experience in America, but looking into the whole connection between the two anything that will attract more African-Americans to the study abroad program.

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Dawson said many students do not realize the similarities between Africans and African-Americans. She said students are misinformed about the culture because of Africa’s negative portrayal by the media.

I find that there are more commonalties than differences, she said. We are all of the African culture. We just don’t understand it because of the effects of slavery, racism and stereotypes. Unfortunately, what many African-Americans would not want to be called is an African, and it amazes me.

Tammy Holmes, a junior in English education from Marion, remembers being taught throughout school that Africa is an undesirable place. Despite the negative depiction of Africa, Holmes wants to visit for a personal experience.

I’ve been told that it’s uncivilized and is looked upon as a place someone wouldn’t want to go to, she said. Hopefully they are misconceptions or preconceived notions. I want to experience anything and everything that it has to offer.

Holmes said she is pleased that Black American Studies is considering offering the program to students. It is an opportunity of a lifetime that she did not expect to find at SIUC.

Africa is somewhere I always wanted to go, but I didn’t expect it to happen this soon, she said. I think it is a good opportunity to travel and have new experiences to broaden my horizons.

The Rev. Joseph Brown, director of Black American Studies, said visiting Africa provides growth in every human being and insight to the world.

I don’t think you could be a complete human being without knowing Africa, he said. Africa is the key to understanding the modern world. Everyone needs to go.

Factoid:Black American Studies will have an informational meeting at 4 p.m. today in Pulliam Hall Room 34. For more information call 453-7147.