Dr. Dave Canton
A Triple Threat: A Director, Hip Hop Historian, and Podcaster Story By:
Mia Brabham
“
I teach the past but I don’t live in the past, because I can’t live without my Wi-fi, like LL Cool J who can’t live without his radio. The witty, gregarious, and loquacious Dr. David A. Canton has enough energy and passion to power a large lecture room ― or more aptly ― an entire academic program. After a nationwide search, in August 2020 Dr. Canton was named Director of the African American Studies Program at University of Florida. As a full time administrator, Dr. Canton’s role is to ensure that the program, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, follows its mission statement by
providing students first rate teaching, bringing in compelling speakers, recruiting a new cohort of engaging faculty, offering a dynamic set of classes and running the budget. But his true goal? Taking the program to the next level ― and with enthusiasm, passion and short and longterm planning. “The opportunity to build a department is exciting,” he says. “The founders of Black studies programs across the country knew the power to make institutional change comes through departments.” He believes a reinvigorated program has an opportunity to help shape public policy and make societal change. He is passionate and adamant about building a 21st century program
that teaches students how to become critical thinkers and take what they’ve learned into their communities, as well as the country at large. Teaching and learning is intergenerational and his pedagogy is “not either-or, it’s a synthesis.” He recognizes the power of social media and technology, and is dead set on providing the students the tools and resources they need to merge theory and history with the audience they can reach on social media. When their students have online debates, “they can respond with facts, content and analysis. They can quote a scholar and a book. Like in chess, they will have their opponent in checkmate.” Dr. Canton encourages his students to
embrace the acquisition of knowledge ― and like a rap battle ― he wants his students prepared and ready to win. Born and raised in the Bronx, Dr. Canton didn’t grow up having any Black teachers. He didn’t learn about Ida B. Wells and W. E. B. Du Bois until getting his B.A. in history from Morehouse College. While pursuing his MA in Black Studies at The Ohio State University, he learned as a scholar that he must “read everything, and one has to read more than one perspective.” While it’s impressive, shaping a department (and hopefully, in the future, a graduate program) is certainly not the only interesting thing he does at the University. Dr. Canton is an gainesvilleblackprofessionals.com
51
