Building St. Louis Oral History

3 units

This course aims to provide a national and local understanding of how Americans and St. Louisians dealt with the problems of racism, poverty, and sexism from 1945 to the present. While history courses traditionally require that students analyze the credibility and subjectivity of each historical source, this course will further challenge students to use the methods of oral history to compare evidence from oral historical memory with written texts. By comparing St. Louis history with that of the rest of the nation, students will analyze regional differences and understand the unique historical conditions that shaped this city.