ASRC 1500 - Introduction to Africana Studies

(crosslisted) AMST 1500, GOVT 1503
(GB) (CA-AS, GLC-AS, SSC-AS)

Fall, Spring. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

Fall, N. Assie-Lumumba; Spring, C. Boyce Davies.

This course offers an introduction to the study of Africa, the U.S., the Caribbean and other diasporas. This course will examine, through a range of disciplines, among them literature, history, politics, philosophy, the themes - including race/racism, the Middle Passage, sexuality, colonialism, and culture - that have dominated Africana Studies since its inception in the late-1960s. We will explore these issues in the attempt to understand how black lives have been shaped, in a historical sense; and, of course, the effects of these issues in the contemporary moment. This course seeks to introduce these themes, to investigate through one or more of the disciplines relevant to the question, and to provide a broad understanding of the themes so as to enable the kind of intellectual reflection critical to Africana Studies.