Overview

Mission Statement

In accordance with the founding mission of this organization to promote the unity, progress and strength of students of African descent as well as those of non-African descent on campus, our mission this year goes thus. Our mission is to thrust HU ASA forward so as to earn her a reputation as an association par excellence, fostered by the quality of leadership and relevance of innovative programs that will be provided by a brilliant and passionate team of individuals with an interest in service. In addition, we intend to benefit Africa by contemplating and executing ideas that will ensure her development.

Overview

Howard University, being a historically black institution, has recorded a tremendous enrollment of African students, in addition to the Afro-Americans and the rest of the student body which comprises of individuals of African descent. For lack of a more befitting word, “Diversity” would suffice as a near-perfect description of the eclectic collection of distinguished and talented scholars that make up the Howard University population,
and who, serving as able ambassadors of their various countries, continually develop great pride in their skin colors and their innate genius, and go ahead to demonstrate leadership for America and the global community. Just like any other historically black university, there is no doubt that the hub of Howard University, the foundation upon which she was established, the celebrated legacy which she currently upholds, and the even greater future which she struggles relentlessly to attain, are all centered around an old sense of pride in one common “idea”—AFRICA.

Bearing in mind the popular saying that “You are nobody until you have a clear identity,” and knowing that scholastic achievements alone have never been know to identify a people as one body, it became imperative to establish a means to unite us, to provide first-hand enlightenment about our origin, to uphold a sense of pride in our African descent, and to share a common identity as a people of different nations but of “one blood.” It was for this reason (and a lot more) that, in the year 1985, the Howard University African Students Association (HU ASA) was established. The association was established as a “melting pot” for the different cultures, languages, religions, values, beliefs and histories that exist on the Howard University campus, where all these elements would be fused and molded into a strong, vibrant, singular model body of students. It was an avenue through which the issues that confronted the continent of Africa would be discussed by enlightened and exposed minds, and where solutions would be proffered to tackle those issues. It was a means of drawing the attention of the world to the despicable living conditions, the exploitation, and the other plights of our brothers and sisters back on the continent. It was also, very remarkably, an eye opener to the richness, beauty and diversity that are inherent in the African art and culture, and that have influenced life and art in many other civilizations today, including the Western world!

The HU ASA, a member-driven association since its inception, has recorded great success in the achievement of its mission on the campus of Howard University. Armed with a combination of its prominence on campus, the exceptional character and intellectual competence of the African student body, and the various educational and socio-cultural programs organized by the HU ASA, the association has effectively presented African in good light, and dispelled the misconceptions and negative stereotypes that existed of Africa and continental Africans at Howard University. The association has also extended hands of friendship, and enhanced relationships between continental Africans and Africans in the Diaspora (which comprises mainly of Afro-Americans and Caribbean). These hands of friendship also include various community service programs organized by the HU ASA to improve the quality of life in our immediate “neighbors” (the NW DC Metropolitan Area) and beyond.