In Their Words: Student Voices

What does Black Studies mean to the students experiencing it today? In their own words, our students share how the program is shaping their learning, deepening their understanding, strengthening their sense of purpose and community, and helping them imagine what comes next. We invite you to meet members of our Black Studies community through their stories.

Chris Wise, Class of 2027

I initially started my education in Black Studies as a way to apply for medical school that would set me apart from other applicants and hopefully allow me to address the specific health concerns I’ve seen either misconstrued or treated with a callous lack of concern in my friends and family. Instead, I found that the more I learn about the conceptual fabrication of Blackness and our subsequent treatment in the medical field, the more motivated I feel to create pathways for medics, doctors, and nurses to help close the mortality gap between Black folk and the rest of America.

I have no doubt that my journey toward understanding race and racial inequality is going to make me a better physician one day, and I’m grateful and excited that PSU is willing to push me toward that goal.