American Patriotism in Black and White

This course explores the different and sometimes conflicting definitions and meanings of patriotism and citizenship through the lens of African American history and military participation, using primary and secondary sources from the colonial period to the present, including political and legal documents, letters to editors, literary pieces, plays, speeches, and petitions. What are the many definitions of freedom and patriotism, and how have black people understood their realities as they chose to serve militarily? This social and political (not military) history focuses on the political implications of African Americans’ military service for/to the nation over three centuries.