Urban Black Lives

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This course historically examines the manifold ways urban centers have shaped and impacted black people. Since emancipation, countless Black Americans have dreamed of and traveled to urban centers to gain access to better jobs, entertainment, and housing. In this course, students will learn the economic role urban centers play in the United States’ economy, They also will explore the economic, political, and social reasons why Black Americans have historically moved to be closer to these geographical centers. Students will also examine how urbanism continues to intersect with patriarchal logic and anti-black racism. Moreover, students will learn how these structural and ideological dynamics shape African Americans’ experiences with housing, employment, recreation, social welfare, healthcare, and politics. Lastly, this course will center explore African Americans’ voices and experiences, with a close review of how they created spaces to feel joy, intimacy, respect, and (a taste of) freedom.