AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY: 1915-1945

Catalog description

Throughout the 20th century, African Americans have employed a variety of strategies toward the attainment of social, political, and economic equality. At different historical moments, specific agendas, tactics, and participants have come to forefront, yet the overall objectives remain the same. During the 1920s and 1930s, many African Americans put forth a fusion of cultural and political activism as the vanguard of the movement. We will explore the intersection between culture and politics during this period and examine its place within the larger struggle for equality. Using primary and secondary sources, this course will look beyond traditional literary models and present students with a deeper and more complete understanding of the complex and dynamic social, cultural, and political phenomenon known as the New Negro or Harlem Renaissance. The key themes the course will address are: Agency, Resistance, Self-determination, Citizenship, Political Activism, Gender, Sexuality, Color, Tactics, and Civil Rights. Students are required to complete weekly readings and audio, and visual assignments and to be prepared to discuss them in class. Students must also complete a final research project on a topic of their own choosing that culminates in a 15-page paper.