New/Women's Activism in the African Diaspora

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Black women’s activism has previously received less attention in larger discussions about the Black freedom struggle. Moving thematically and chronologically, this seminar will center Black women’s activism across the African Diaspora from as early as the eighteenth century to our contemporary era. We will be thinking critically about the ways in which Black women’s activism informed the Black freedom struggle as they engaged with national and international politics. Drawing on primary and secondary sources, we will explore Black women’s labor in both formal and informal activism as we expand our definition of activism to include more than political organizing. How have Black women formed networks of activism across the globe? How do we define women’s activism within the larger Black freedom struggle? How did Black women challenge and uphold hegemonic systems of power as they navigated national and international politics? By the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. Analyze the development of Black women’s activism across the African diaspora, explaining how historical, political, and social contexts shaped their strategies of resistance, leadership, and community-building from the eighteenth century to the present. 2. Critically evaluate primary and secondary sources to assess how scholars construct arguments about race, gender, and diaspora, identifying key intersections and tensions in the field. 3. Communicate complex ideas about Black women’s transnational activism through clear, persuasive writing and discussion, demonstrating growth in analytical and interpretive skills throughout the semester. 4. Design and conduct an oral history interview with a Black woman activist, applying ethical research practices and theoretical insights from the course to interpret the interview within broader diasporic and feminist traditions of activism.