Black Capitalism and the Quest for Economic Freedom in America

Catalog description

This course examines the history, the struggles, and the promise of Black Capitalism in the United States from the post-Civil War Reconstruction era to the present. The Reconstruction period marked the first time that Black Americans prospered in the civic and economic sectors of the U.S. More Black Americans served in significant roles in politics then than in 2024. The evolution of vibrant Black communities across the nation from the latter years of the 19th Century to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, involves entrepreneurship, community lending practices and more, in the face of segregation and legislated racism. Tulsa’s Greenwood District is unique in this narrative due to the interrelated histories of Black Americans and Indigenous Americans in this part of the country. Our emphasis on the economic and cultural values of Black Americans will also help students examine the relationship of ideas, place and resilience.