The Southern Conference on African American Studies Inc. (S.C.A.S.S.I.) began in 1979 following a successful statewide Black History and Culture program at Texas Southern University. The program was held to bring together persons from across the state of Texas who were interested in interpreting and preserving black history and culture. Due to the success of the initial program, the participants wanted to keep the momentum alive and expand the program at future meetings. The southern states contained a majority of African Americans but most of the intellectual activities geared at interpreting and preserving African American history and culture were centered elsewhere. It was immediately decided to try to bring together, regardless of color or creed, all who were interested in interpreting and preserving black history and culture, especially that which had originated in and/or affected the South.

The annual meetings of S.C.A.A.S.I are held at former Confederate and border states. At the meetings, scholarly papers and articles are presented and critiqued. After the paper is read, the discussion leader(s) look at the paper to examine the validity of the work; its reflection on the black and white communities; and the possible future effects of the subject matter. Some of the papers are selected for inclusion in The Griot: The Journal of African American Studies, the official publication of Southern Conference on African American Studies, Inc. published semi-annually at Berea College, Berea, KY.