By the end of this course you will be able to
1. identify and explain the relationship between race, culture, and history in the field of American Studies;
2. draw on your knowledge of scientific arguments from different disciplines to discuss and explain developments within African American history and culture of the 20th and 21st century.
3. find, evaluate, and discuss academic sources on the topic of African American culture and history.
4. define academic debates (in the field of African American studies) in your own words and to relate secondary and primary sources to such debates.
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This course will explore the intersections of politics and culture in the history of the Black Freedom Struggle of the 20th century. Seven seminars will revolve around case studies that explore the lives of several African American intellectuals, union leaders, and politicians. These case studies serve to analyze central themes in the history of African American’s struggle for justice, such as the role of international connections, unions and social justice, the intersection of race and gender, and “color blind” ideology in the 21st century. The course starts with W.E.B. Du Bois’ argument to “close ranks” with white American during the Great War and ends with an exploration of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Throughout the course students will be encouraged to explore the junctures of academic disciplines and debates through class discussions and (group) presentations. Writing assignments and a (take-home) exam will be employed to test the students’ understanding of main themes in African American history and culture.
It is possible that the final weeks of this course will take the form of an academic exchange with the University of Duisburg/Essen. In that case, you should expect to spend two days away from Nijmegen and two days hosting guests from Germany. More information will follow as soon as possible.
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