The African American Theme House, affectionately known as Afro House, stands as a testament to community, support, and the celebration of Black culture at UC Berkeley. Established in 1997, Afro House was created to provide a supportive, community-focused environment for Black students at UC Berkeley.
A Home Away From Home
Theme Programs bring together students with a shared identity, interest, or academic area into unique living and learning environments. Being a part of a Theme Program can help you find your community, explore your identities, and build connections across campus and beyond.
Activities center around the thematic connection and may include off-campus excursions, workshops, faculty dinners, study groups, social events, and other opportunities to foster shared experience around similar identities, interests, and/or values.
The African American Theme Program (AATP)
In partnership with the African American Student Development Office (AASD), the African American Theme Program (AATP) provides a community for students to build community and learn about Black/African theorists, scholars and organizers. A live-in Theme Program Resident Assistant (TPRA) provides resources and support for residents’ social and academic needs.
Our academic seminar (AAS194), programs, community service projects, and resources encourage solidarity and unity among Black students and their allies of all backgrounds - cultivating a broader understanding of social issues within the global African diasporic context. Residents and interested community members are encouraged to openly discuss specific issues related to the African diaspora in the University community, the country, and the world.
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AATP runs a number of signature events such as Senior Weekend, Block Party/Open House and Kwanzaa. Members of the floor also engage in several programs including Community Engagement Programs, Research Projects, a retreat and more.
AATP residents live together in mini-suites in Christian Hall, Unit 1, which is situated in South Berkeley, one block from campus and a few blocks away from the bustle of Telegraph Avenue.
AAS194 Seminar
A yearlong (fall and spring) seminar course, African American Studies 194A/B. The mandatory seminar is a 2-unit/semester, graded class that meets on Wednesdays from 5-7PM. Events include a wide variety of interaction with fellow students, staff, and faculty through various community activities.
Every speaker in the seminars emphasized how we as students have the ability to connect with people on campus to make a difference where we see fit.
The Afro House within the Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC)
The African American Theme House is an autonomous housing cooperative within the Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC). The BSC is a student run nonprofit whose mission is to “provide a quality, low-cost, cooperative housing community to university students, thereby providing an educational opportunity for students who might not otherwise be able to afford a university education.”
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One of the smaller houses, located in the south Berkeley foothills down the street from Memorial Stadium, “Afro House” overlooks the campus and greater bay area. Previously a Slavic House, the BSC purchased the property in 1997.
Afro House was bought at a time when diversity in the higher education system was under attack. The 1995 ballot proposition 209 prohibited using race as a factor when admitting students, resulting in a rapid decrease of many ethnic groups in higher education in California, especially at UC Berkeley.
The number of African American students enrolling to Cal was 6.5% in 1995. Now the total number of black students is lower than 3% of the student population. As black student numbers dwindled, the presence of an Afrocentric, community space became even more necessary.
At the time the BSC was in the process of acquiring another house, Foster championed turning the new coop into an African American theme house.
Unfortunately this hasn't been the case for the past few years. In the 2011-2012 school year there was only one African American living in Afro House. This year there are six, but there is much more work needed to bring the culture back to what it once was.
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Afro House and the African American Themed Program at Cal
In order to address the lack of Afrocentrism within the house we have collaborated with the African American Themed Program at Cal. This program is designed for freshmen who want to be involved with the black community and “explore black experiences at Cal."
This live-in program requires students to enroll in an African American studies course, engage in community service, and attend events through the African American Student Development Office.
We as students living in Afro House have voted to create a scholarship for this program so a few students can board at Afro. This means that as freshmen they can enjoy the benefits of being a boarder at Afro.
Boarders are permitted a few meals each week that are made by members within Afro. This allows them to be apart of the house culture, thereby bringing us closer to our goal of bringing Afro back to what was originally envisioned by Donald Foster.
We hope to raise $3500 to purchase a central level boarding contract. Scholarship recipients will be granted access to not only the house but nightly dinners and other food provided in the cooperative.
Afro House community tailgate.
Person of Color Graduate/Re-entry Theme House
The house has been temporarily rethemed for 1 year as a Person of Color Graduate/Re-entry Theme House in 2025. PGR is open to graduate students and those aged 25 years and older who identify as people of color for Fall 2025 to Spring 2026. Members should expect a shared bedroom at PGR.
How to Apply
To apply, complete a UC Berkeley housing application by the deadline. Indicate which Theme Programs you are interested in and submit your application. You’ll need to answer supplemental essay questions for each theme program you apply to. You can go back to the Theme Program page on your housing application by logging back into the housing application portal. Then choose the Theme Program step on the left-hand Application Menu.
In the past, Afro House has been known by the following names:
- Chocolate City (2002)
- Fro Row (2003)
- The Village (2004)
- Soul Central (2005)
- Onyx Oasis (2006)
- Ebony Empire (2007)
- In Living Color (2008)
- Black diamond (2009)
- Sepia Hill (2010)
- Sankofa Soul (2011)
- YBI (Young Black Intellectuals), Renaissance (2012)
- IMPACT (Increasing Minority Power At Cal Together) (2013)
- B.E.R.K.
“Unity House is a safe, supportive environment. You can be your queer/trans self without having to worry about heteronormative policing. You can make lots of friends and have (in)formal introductions to QT resources. Unity House is a powerful learning experience.
“You will make lifelong friends. You will have a sense of community and feel at home all year long.
