Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
Bad news first: there's no African-American studies recruiter at the local job fair. You're not learning a specific trade. You're learning about four hundred years of injustice because that's just the kind of person you are: justice-focused and maybe a little depressing at cocktail parties. You're basically Batman, is what we're saying.
Now the good news: because you're not being trained for a specific job, there are tons of options open to you. A lot of places want college graduates without caring exactly what the initial major was in. Other places put specific value on the major itself, and let's be honest, you want to work for a place that's like, "An African-American studies major? You were the one the prophecies spoke of!"
Common Career Fields
Media relations. You know how corporations will sometimes do something really stupid and/or racially insensitive? They hire people specifically to prevent that kind of thing, since most consumers tend to avoid the racially problematic paper towel brands. Media relations specialists are the kinds of people tasked with preventing these outbursts, and—shocker—African-American studies majors are great at it. Corporations especially like race-wranglers with Master's degrees in the subject. Yee-haw.
U.S. State Department. The State Department is the diplomatic arm of the U.S. government; their job is to make sure other countries don't hate us too much. Since African-American studies majors have seen their homeland, warts and all, they're armed with a more realistic view of their country and have a better idea of how to smooth over relations with other countries. Hey countries, just don't ask us to help with that zit on your back: last time was the last time, France.
Publishing. Normally, the thought of publishing fills any modern job-seeker with superstitious dread. You might as well try to find the lost city of El Dorado, because worst-case scenario, gold, right? Actually, the worst-case scenario is "eaten by an anaconda," and that's one thing publishing won't do to you. The industry is in the midst of upheaval as it tries to squeeze money from the Internet, but that's not saying it'll be gone forever. People like to read, whether it's news, books, or lists of top reasons that you absolutely have to start washing your hair with balsamic vinegar. Someone has to write, edit, and publish that content. As issues of diversity and representation grow more important in American culture, people with a background in African-American studies become more valuable.
Restaurants. How does understanding systemic oppression help make a good bisque? It doesn't. However there's a lot more to the African-American experience than oppression. African-Americans have contributed a rich food tradition to American culture, as well. You're studying the culture, and you might as well check out the food, right? We'll tell you this upfront: you're going to thank us.
Education. Unfortunately, jobs in education are too often seen as something you end up in rather than a goal in and of themselves. Sort of like when you go out to eat after 11:00PM and realize there's only one place open, the one whose pallid waitstaff looks like it crawled out of a George Romero movie: water…no ice…with leeeemons…? Well, your reluctance to frequent that place is a shame because it has decent pancakes and, like education, it can be a noble pursuit. Your job will be acquainting students with African-American history and culture. Education represents our best shot at creating an American experience for all of our country's citizens that respects our racial differences. You know, like the utopia that those Benetton ads are always trying to sell us on.
Law. (Requires law school) You're going to be learning a lot about how the law has let down the African-American community. It's a shameful, upsetting history, but here's the good part: you get to help change that. Maybe you won't be wearing a spandex suit—or maybe you will, we don't judge—but you will be something of a superhero, righting wrongs and doling out justice. That reminds us: have we mentioned Batman?
Counseling. (Requires graduate degree in psychology) The African-American community needs counseling the same as any other group. You know the culture, you know the history, you know all the words to the best Taylor Swift song (non-debatable). Anyway, the point is that you are specifically equipped to speak to a large subset of the population. About Taylor Swift and other topics.
Current unemployment of the major
6.8%Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
44%Stats obtained from this source.