An African American Theatre Program for the Twenty-First Century

This chapter examines the unique history of the University of Louisville’s African American Theatre Program (AATP), the first credit-bearing academic program in African American theatre to be offered by an American institution of higher learning. The author reflects on the AATP’s inception in 1993 as part of the university’s strategy to pacify its campus during a time of racial unrest, examines present challenges relating to identity and mission, and makes recommendations for approaches that can lead to a sustainable future.