DCUL 27A00 - African-American Odyssey from Phyllis Weatley to #BlackLivesMatter (The)

Who can seriously argue that, as Donald Trump’s running again for the presidency on a white nationalist agenda against a Black woman that race is not the defining question of America today? How else can we make sense of the current republican assault on Civil Rights, affirmative action policies and even on the teaching of the history of race and struggle over racial justice in America?

This course aims to introduce students to major elements of the African-American tumultuous journey in the United States. The African-American experience spans four hundred years, from the initial settlement of the American continent by Europeans and the establishment of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and down through the present day. This class contemplates this “odyssey” from a multidisciplinary perspective (literature, sociology, political science…) along with an historical background. Central to our discussions will be a focus on the African-American voice since the 18th century. The course is organized chronologically, with an emphasis on the ideas of black social thought, political protest and efforts to initiate social change. This course also draws on popular culture (music, visual arts, television, sports…) as to explore the destiny of black people in the American contemporary cultural history, with particular attention to the interplay between “black” culture and political consciousness. From slave poetess Phyllis Weatley to current protests against racism and police brutality from activists and athletes like LeBron James, the black experience has leaned toward the elimination of second-class citizenship, the realization of democratic rights and greater social fairness, and toward the achievement of cultural integrity of black Americans.

1 presentation 40%

2 quizzes 40% (sessions 5 and 10)

Participation 20%