Interview with: Dr. Melencia Johnson About the Importance of Teaching Black History

Dr. Melencia Johnson is a sociology professor at USC Aiken and teaches various courses including Sociology of Delinquent Youth Behavior and Sociology of Black Experience.

Originally from Lynchburg, Virginia, Johnson attended Norfolk State, completed research work at East Tennessee State and earned her graduate degree at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale.

Currently, Johnson is conducting pedagogical research to learn more about how to further educate students.

“[this is] how we teach what we teach and how teachers can become more inclusive in the classroom… teaching race in the classroom…”

Regarding her personal interests in Black history, Johnson was able to name a few by doing a brief scan around her office. She has been to Africa several times, veers toward Black works for personal and classroom use and recalls W.E.B Dubios as being one of her favorite sociologists. Along with this, she is also heavily involved with her NAACP branch.

“One thing that college students don’t think about is that the Civil Rights movement was started by students their age” - Johnson on the importance of teaching Black history to college students

When instructing Sociology of the Black Experience, which teaches students about the historical experiences of Black people, Johnson concludes the course with lessons about the resilience and accomplishments of Black people.

“I think it’s important regardless of the setting that you’re in. In teaching at an HBCU and being the product of an HBCU, there are still students attending that don’t know about their history” - Johnson on why teaching Black history at a PWI is important

For the past three semesters, an African American Studies minor has been offered to students. This minor gives students a chance to learn about Black history and incorporate it into other aspects of their lives.

Picture provided by USCA Directory.