Black Life Online: Intro to Digital Black Studies

4.0 credits

From Black Twitter to TikTok dances, from BlackPlanet to AI chatbots, Black people have shaped what the internet is and imagined what it could be. This introductory course explores Black digital life and culture: social media, memes, music, gaming, algorithms, and archives. Students learn foundational Black Studies concepts through the digital worlds they already inhabit, asking how race shapes technology and how Black communities create, resist, and build online. Coursework emphasizes hands-on projects over traditional essays: platform observation, meme genealogies, oral histories, and a curated digital exhibit. No prior experience with Black Studies or technology required.