Andean-Caribbean Dialogues of Negritude

This course illustrates the connectedness of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, African diaspora, and political thought by exploring the mutual influences of Nicolás Guillén's (1902-1989) and Nicomedes Santa Cruz's (1925-1992) intellectual work on Cuban and Peruvian Negritude. The course will address essays, books and videos that discuss Afro-descendants’ struggles for recognition in Latin America, focusing on their redefinition of Afro-descendant identities and their visions for the democratic transformation of Latin American societies. The course objective is to analyze the scope, limits, and contradictions of their proposals on Afro-Latino recognition, citizenship, social justice, gender, biraciality, and interculturality. Finally, the course will evaluate the validity of their approaches within the current struggles of Afro-descendant citizens in Cuba and Peru. The course instruction and primary readings will be in Spanish and English. Students may submit work in English, Spanish or both.