The Global African Diaspora in Comparative Perspective

Catalog description

Provides a conceptual and thematic exploration of the principal issues and forces in the socio-cultural and political history of the global African diaspora. Temporally, the course focuses the pre-16th century, the 16th-20th centuries, and the more recent period. Spatially, the course investigates, by comparing, the experiences of both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean/Red Sea African diasporas and teases out their commonalities and divergences. Thematically, the course will help students develop a deeper and critical understanding of how and why African diasporic identities emerged, converged and diverged over the centuries. Students will engage in class discussions and debates, making presentations, and writing reflective/evaluative papers on the issues as well as on readings, documentaries, and movies used in the class.