African American studies is a sub field of African Studies which is also termed Black Studies. This interdisciplinary field is strictly devoted towards the study of history and culture of African Americans. From a broad perspective, this field is not only dedicated towards the study of culture of African Americans but also cultures of the all African descendants. African American studies also includes scholars from a range of disciplines including Literature, history, sociology, religion, politics and numerous other subfields of social sciences and humanities.

African American studies were initially promoted through departments and programs emerging in the 1960s and 1970s. This emerging new field was the result of numerous protests and activism by students and faculty. Such sit-ins and protests became a common demand by students who believed their culture deserved to be part of the traditional structure of academia.

The concomitant field of African American studies is a systematic manner of studying black history, sociology, culture as well as religion. Black studies can be described as the study of experiences of Africans and their impressions on present society and also the forces of society on them. This field serves to uproot various stereotypes based on racial differences. African American Studies carries out analysis of culture, history, social and economic structures, gender relationships, stereotypes and also family structure.

In a nutshell, the African American Studies serves to explore more than just the history and culture of Africans. This field explores the African social, economic and political aspects of African descendants of not only United States but also Latin America and the Caribbean.