Introduction to Black Studies

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

African American Studies is a vital program of critical and intellectual inquiry. This course offers students the opportunity to examine, from numerous disciplinary perspectives, the experiences and contributions of people of African descent in the United States. This course surveys key concepts and defining movements from 1609 to the present in order to uncover the roots of an African American cultural tradition in the West. We will explore the historical, cultural, economic, political, religious, literary, and social contributions and developments of African Americans from slavery to freedom to the present. Students are encouraged to make connections between the texts and to think critically and creatively across disciplinary boundaries. Topics discussed will include the articulation of the self, questions about identity, the struggle for equality, artistic expression, capitalism and violence, internationalism, political processes, and intersectionality. The course provides a solid foundation from which students may pursue more advanced and more specialized studies of the African American experience. The course will examine a variety of texts, including autobiography, propaganda, drama, sociological studies, artwork, and music.