Sport in African History

Catalog description

Recent events in sporting history have precipitated changes in perception for many in Africa relative to the historic legacies of racism and colonial rule. These events lead to pivotal questions -What are the broader social and political meanings of sport in African society? And what does the study of sport in Africa tell us about Africa¿s place in world history? This course uses the lens of sport to examine the social and political histories of Africa and the wider diaspora in historical perspective. From the racial and gendered hierarchies of colonialism to the use of sport to protest against social injustices, students are challenged to analyze the interdisciplinary significance of sport far beyond the playing field. One of the main intellectual goals of this course is to use sport to deepen our understanding of specific outcomes in African sport (e.g. South Africa¿s remarkable transformation from pariah of international sport to host of global events like the 2010 World Cup, and Kenyan running successes) from a variety of perspectives. We also consider how Americans travelled to and engaged with African societies as athletes, ambassadors, and activists. Broadly, this course explores sport and social change in Africa from the late nineteenth century to the present. It examines the sporting lives of African athletes, fans, reporters, coaches, and organizers and then connects them to shifting racial identities and power relationships on the continent as well as elsewhere around the world. These histories shed light on the pivotal role of sport in the everyday lives of people across the continent. In the process, we pay attention to primary sources, analyzing the ways in which Africans thought, talked, and represented themes discussed in assigned readings. Ultimately, this course will strengthen student skills of critical thinking, oral communication, collaboration, research, and writing.