Kote Nou Ye?: Exploring Black Haitian Diasporic Identity

(4 Credits)

The Haitian-American experience is often riddled with feelings of shame, nostalgia, and confusion. The past several decades have been witness to the rise of several Haitian-American diasporic voices: authors creating works of fiction that cast a light on the unique experience of existing in a liminal space. This course will focus on the work of Black Haitian-American authors such as Edwidge Danticat, Ibi Zoboi, and Katia Ulysse, using them as intimate case studies exploring the following questions: Has the Haitian-American experience shifted in any way in the past several decades? Who can identify as a "Dyaspora"? How is Haitian identity and culture being passed on through these stories? Where is the Haitian Diaspora now? Ultimately, the goal is to deepen our knowledge of Haiti and its people abroad and create a call to action.