The experience of Black people in the United States has shaped, refined, and contested the very nature of concepts such as democracy, liberty, and equality. No discussion of these concepts in the context of the United States is complete without a full accounting of how Black people have dealt with them, as critics, exemplars, activists, and theorists. This course will attempt to chart the shifting contours of African American politics and activism in the post-Civil Rights era in order to think about the overlaps and distinctions between electoral politics, popular culture, and insurgent activism. Topics of focus include but are not limited to: intersectionality and Black Feminism(s), Black Capitalism, Black Conservatism, and racialized social pressures. We will read both canonical and contemporary works in Black politics to give you both a breadth and a depth of what scholars have to say about how Black people both make sense of and resist the overarching political order in the United States.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 15

Crosslisted Courses:

Prerequisites: POL1 200 or permission of the instructor.

Distribution Requirements: SBA - Social and Behavioral Analysis

Typical Periods Offered: Spring

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring

Notes: