St. Louis Black History, Culture and Civic Engagement

3 units

Discover the stories of Black Saint Louisans and their contributions to the city, the region, and the nation. From Dred and Harriet Scott to J. D. and Ethel Lee Shelley, from Scott Joplin to Chuck Berry, from James Milton Turner to Tishaura Jones, the course will engage first-hand accounts and innovative scholarship to examine St. Louis's deep and rich history of Black life, culture, resistance, and civic engagement that has shaped the city for three centuries. Beyond the classroom, students will experience this history through visits to key sites in the city's African American past, tour local Black museums, and learn directly from area history-makers and custodians of African American history. Students will apply their learning through collaborative work with a community partner that elevates histories of the African American experience in St. Louis.