Black Studies (BLST)

This course is an interdisciplinary examination of theorizing, cultures, ideas, and significant events connecting African-descended people in roughly the last 500 years. Given Black Studies’ historical roots as an intellectual development out of African American political protest, this version of the course will analyze material from and about the Black Atlantic world, but especially that from the United States. The goal of this course is to offer a primer of major ideas and themes of Black experiences, histories, politics, and cultures created out of the experience of encounter with the White “West”. It is not a comprehensive study of any element of Black politics, sociology, history, etc. or groups of Black people, rather it is an entry point to deeply consider the world in various spaces and times from diverse Black perspectives. The method of this course will be to observe and critically examine ideas across time and geographies via themes in writing, cultural products, and events, primarily. In this course, we will explore the questions: How did Blackness become an identity? How have Black peoples seen themselves? How have Black peoples expressed themselves and from whence? How has gender shaped Black experiences, histories, and politics? What is the meaning of “freedom” and why such persistent talk about it? What continues to connect African descended peoples of the world? C21:DI,HC,HU.

This is a course in which students prepare for and participate in the annual National Model Organization of African Unity, held each March in Washington, D.C. Students research the foreign policy concerns of a particular African state, and then represent that state over an intensive four-day model conference. Students from some forty other institutions attend this conference as delegates from OAU member states. Through simulation, augmented by briefings at African embassies in Washington, student delegates gain a better and clearer understanding of the various determinants, capabilities, and constraints that shape the domestic and foreign policies of each country as well as the patterns of cooperation and conflict that characterize intra-African diplomacy.

Students in this course prepare for and apply to serve as officers in the annual National Model Organization of African Unity, held each March in Washington, D.C.

Please see instructor for course description.

Please see instructor for course description.

The Black Studies Seminar is designed to acquaint students with the intellectual canon, major debates, and new directions in Black Studies. It is structured for students to do deep reading and careful analysis of arguments and issues of the field. It is a reading and writing intensive course meant to prepare students to ably produce trenchant, relevant, and effective scholarship related to topics of Black Studies. The class will begin its examination with the work of founding scholars and thinkers of Black Studies. It will explore major paradigms of thought in the field, such as Inclusionism, Afrocentricism, and transformation theory. Class topics to be examined include foundations and development of anti-Black racism, colonialism, feminism, and Black Queer studies, among others. At the course's end, the students will understand the core tenets and debates of Black studies and will have made their own scholarly intervention in the field. C21:CS.

Open to qualified students who seek an immersion experience in a setting consistent with their goals, preparation, and interests. Students are expected to complete goals agreed upon by themselves, their site supervisor, and their academic supervisor. Application required; see Internship Program. C21:EL.

A Field Study is an experiential learning course combining elements of workplace experience, observation, and/or research. Students are expected to work closely with a faculty field study supervisor to develop learning objectives and a plan of study appropriate to the discipline. Assignments may include a reflective journal, activity reports, and one or more directed research papers appropriate to the discipline. Workplace experience requirements should be similar to those of internships. Students should not receive compensation from workplace experience if they are receiving three-hour course credit. C21:EL.