AS 1000Intro to Africana Studies

Catalog

This course provides an introductory exploration of the histories, experiences, knowledge, and cultures of people of African descent, as well as the foundations of the academic field of Africana Studies. Rooted in Africana ways of being and knowing, the course begins with an overview of the field’s development within the Western academic institution. It then examines its anterior community foundations and the social and political conditions that occasioned the push for its institutional incorporation, from the transatlantic slave trade, colonization, and Jim Crow to women’s club, Black Arts, and other liberation movements, emphasizing the enduring impact of community wisdom and collective struggle. It explores key themes such as Diaspora, race, power, and liberation through multi-/interdisciplinary approaches, including history, literature, sociology, economics, art, and education. Students will analyze primary texts, cultural artifacts, and historical and contemporary scholarship to understand the lives, labor, and legacies of African-descended people globally. Topics such as Pan-Africanism, Black feminisms, civil rights movements, and the role of African cultures in shaping modern global society are central to the course, culminating in critical discussions about the relevance of Africana Studies in today’s world.