A Systematic Literature Review of Pan-African Studies: Preparing Black Students for Critical Global Citizenship

• In Event: African and African-Diaspora Unity for Liberation From Empires

Abstract

In response to global interconnectedness, escalating conflicts, and climate change, American educational institutions are adopting innovative strategies to prepare students for global citizenship. Global Citizenship Education (GCE) has emerged to help learners navigate and address these global shifts; however, conventional GCE frameworks often lack a critical dimension essential for addressing systemic inequalities. This paper employs a systematic review method to explore how research on Pan-African Studies (PAS) from 2020 to 2024 conceptualizes preparing Black higher education students for global citizenship. The findings indicate that PAS aligns with the cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioral dimensions of GCE, fostering belonging, empathy, global knowledge, critical thinking, and global responsibility, while emphasizing critical consciousness and equipping students to become change agents for social justice.

Author

• Tiffany Dupree Osei, University of Pennsylvania