African-American History before 1877

Catalog description

This course examines the complex and varied experiences of African Americans from slavery to 1877. Topics include West African roots, the middle passage, American slavery and resistance, the development of racism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. The course will examine internal and external factors that shaped the black historical experience economically, culturally, and politically. While the class is designed to proceed chronologically, important themes such as the development of racism, abolitionist thought, the slave community, and the impact of free blacks will be emphasized.