[2] Bertha Maxwell-Roddey spearheaded NCBS in 1975 as part of this larger movement for African American studies.
The Black Studies committee envisioned the program to both benefit the community and work in tandem with the entire university through an interdisciplinary approach.
"[7] The NCBS desired to expand and strengthen academic units and community programs concerned with African American studies.
It originally operated as an organization for Black Studies professionals with the aim of developing the field as a respected academic discipline.
[8] Current NCBS board member and department chair of the Africana Studies program at California State University at Long Beach, Maulana Karenga is the founder of the Pan-African holiday Kwanzaa.