Bringing Black studies to Black communities

Every other weekend, Dr. Adam Banks, a Stanford University professor, boards a plane from California to his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, where he teaches African American studies to the local Black community—completely free of charge. His mission is simple: to provide college-level education, spark intellectual curiosity, and create a safe, communal space for Black people to engage with their history, culture, and identity.

Banks, who teaches African American studies at Stanford, brings topics such as Afrofuturism, Black music, the digital impact on the Black experience, and literature to his classes. But these classes don’t take place at a university or formal classroom. Instead, they’re held in UnBar, a Black-owned coffee shop in the Larchmere neighborhood of Cleveland. His only request for attendees: support the café by purchasing something from the menu.

Banks, who has been hosting these “digital cyphers”—or free, open lectures—for over two decades, views the initiative as a way to create a “third space” for Black people. A third space is a place outside of work or home where individuals can come together, engage in meaningful dialogue, and simply be themselves.

“The primary benefit I hope for is just community,” says Banks. “In a world where so much of our lives are mediated through digital spaces, being physically together, around the table, is invaluable. I want this space to be a place where people can think critically and engage in the kind of conversations that are happening at colleges and universities—except this is for free, and it’s in the heart of the community.”

For Banks, who has taught at institutions like Syracuse University and the University of Kentucky, this return to his hometown has a deep personal significance. Cleveland, a city that produced icons like Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison and Olympic legend Jesse Owens, has faced a loss of communal spaces, particularly for Black people. Banks believes his classes help counter this decline by fostering an environment where Black people of all ages and backgrounds can gather, learn, and share experiences.

“We’ve lost so many of the community spaces that we used to have,” Banks says. “And I think it’s important that we create new ones—places where Black folks can think together, affirm one another, and support each other, no matter where we come from.”

Cleveland, while vibrant, struggles with economic hardship, which Banks acknowledges. Unlike the wealth of resources in places like the Bay Area, Cleveland’s lack of funding and access to cultural spaces can leave people feeling disconnected. This is why Banks is so committed to creating a space for Black people to reconnect with each other.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is that Cleveland is a majority Black city,” Banks points out. “I’ve always felt an ambassadorial function to represent my hometown. I wanted to give back to both the Bay Area and Cleveland.”

In the face of ongoing political challenges—especially in a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are under attack—Banks remains unwavering in his mission. He is committed to the cause of Black studies, academic freedom, and the right to explore and affirm Black culture and history. “You can’t write the First Amendment away by executive order,” he says. “Black traditions, practices, and understandings are just as foundational to this country as any other. They deserve to be explored, studied, and celebrated.”

Banks’ classes draw a diverse group of attendees—from students to professionals to community members—and often feature guest speakers, both in person and virtually. The flexibility of virtual participation allows more people to join the discussions, regardless of their physical location.

“What I’m doing is for everyone,” Banks says. “Whether you’re an assistant principal, a person working in a barber shop, or someone just out of prison, we all deserve a space where we can think critically and be affirmed. That’s my primary goal: to create a space that’s safe, robust, and accessible for all of us.”

For Banks, this work is more than just about teaching Black history; it’s about restoring the spaces where Black people can come together, think, and support one another in ways that empower and strengthen the community.