Introduction to Black "roots" from ancient Africa to contemporary America as an orientation to the nature of Black Studies emphasizing its relationships to world history, Europe, Asia, the Americas, slavery, Reconstruction, colonization, racism, and their politico-economic and cultural impact upon African descendants worldwide.
3 hr./wk.
Analysis of historical conditions which shaped the lives of African peoples in the Caribbean and Brazil emphasizing cultural continuities, human organization and similarities in global Black experience among Africans on the continent and in the Western hemisphere, vis-a-vis European politico-economic control and cultural impact.
3 hr./wk.
The emergence of the modern state structures from colonial Africa. A comparative analysis of colonialism, nationalism and political development of selected African countries.
3 hr./wk.
A survey of patterns of leadership, ideologies, and political organization in contemporary Africa. The "revolutionary" pattern will be contrasted to the "conservative" pattern in an effort to provide a contextual understanding of the relationship between political attitudes and social problems.
3 hr./wk.
The major legal and constitutional problems in international organizations arising in the work of the United Nations with particular reference to decolonization, apartheid, transfer of "appropriate" technology to the developing world, trusteeship questions, peacekeeping functions, human rights, and domestic jurisdiction.
3 hr./wk.
The sociological, psychological and educational needs of Black children in New York City public and private schools. (Education majors must consult their advisor.)
3 hr./wk.
The origins and ethnic development of the Harlem community: demographic trends, institutions, culture, resources, and the role of Harlem as a training ground for Black leadership. Field learning experiences include visits to historic sites and community landmarks.
3 hr./wk.
The impact of technology and industrialization on the Black ghetto; the economics of transportation; perpetuation or disintegration of the ghetto; public welfare; municipal services; effects of migration, limited autonomy, and hostile external political and fiscal policies upon continuous underdevelopment.
3 hr./wk.
White America is described as capitalist and colonialist. Efforts will be made to comprehend the relative importance of the two phenomena for strategies of liberation depending upon the understanding of who and what is the American and America.
3 hr./wk.
The struggle for civil rights related to differences in organizational structures, ideologies and tactics. An attempt is made to evaluate each organization in its situation and in contrast to its social environment.
3 hr./wk.
An historical analysis of the role of religion and the church in sustaining the survival of Black people within white America.
3 hr./wk.
Contemporary legal institutions, their intrinsic race and class biases, the peculiar development and entanglement of the institution of slavery and American jurisprudence, and the effect of the racist application of the American legal system on every facet of the Black experience.
3 hr./wk.
A survey of economic and sociocultural factors. History of the Caribbean and Brazil, with special emphasis on the experience of African peoples dispersed in these areas, their role in the affairs of the Third World, varied colonial experiences, covering the pre-Columbian period through the present.
3 hr./wk.
The relationship between race and class; political power dependency in various Caribbean areas. The colonial and neocolonial experiences of key islands, and movements toward autonomy and independence.
3 hr./wk.
An analysis of the economic and political factors leading to the 19th and 20th century population movements into, within, and from the Caribbean region, stressing migration to the United States, the Caribbean communities in New York, Panama, Central America, London, Paris, Montreal, New Haven, Caracas and Toronto. Immigration issues worldwide will be studied comparatively.
3 hr./wk.
The study of a people involuntarily and forcibly transported from Africa to the Americas. The organizing concepts include African world history, culture and religion, family and genealogy, capitalism and slavery, humanism and communalism, socialization and values, cosmology and philosophical thought.
3 hr./wk.
A survey of the forces shaping the current unrest in the world-wide Black community. Movements that project the changed attitude toward being Black for Blacks and non-Blacks. Highlights both the positive and negative reactions resulting from the new self-pride on the part of Black people.
3 hr./wk.
The historical development and contemporary impact of the concepts of race and racism, focusing upon the early attempts at human classification, notions of polygenesis, the biological and social concepts of race, the origins of racism, slavery, sexism, institutional racism, and contemporary polarization.
3 hr./wk.
Charismatic, mesmerizing, energetic life. Rise from criminal to international fame. Leadership greatly influenced poor African-American masses, stunned Black conservatives and shocked white America. Black Muslims controversy vis-a-vis civil rights forced him to fight independently. Left legacy of beloved martyr slain in Black struggle.
3 hr./wk.
Field work experience in various areas of community service and pre-professional work. Hours arranged. One day per week in field and two hour seminar bimonthly. Students are limited to two courses.
3 hr./wk.
A semester or summer-long course designed to expose selected groups of students to major areas populated by persons of African descent through in-area observation, study, laboratory, and cooperative volunteer work experiences with students and other citizens of the area visited.
3 hr./wk.
3 hr./wk.
3 hr./wk.
3 hr./wk.
3 hr./wk.
Course will examine such early civilizations as the Axum, Nubia, Jenne-jeno, Ile-Ife, central African rainforest societies, Swahili towns, and Great Zimbabwe. Close attention will be paid to how mobility, technological innovation, environmental management, and cross-cultural interaction have shaped African history.
Approval of the Program Director required. no Apply no later than December 10 in the Fall term and May 1 in the Spring term.
Variable cr., but usually 4 cr./sem.
Approval of Program Director is mandatory. Program thoroughly planned and structured. The student will be required to produce evidence of the readings available and relevant to his/her interests. The readings must be compiled into a comprehensive report. Limited to upper-class students with adequate background in Black Studies.
3
3
3
This class will examine how Islam has shaped and has been shaped by Black political and cultural discourses on race, class, and gender to produce a diverse and dynamic African-American Muslim tradition. We will also look at how African-American Muslims have attempted to negotiate their multiple identities as Black, American, and Muslim.
3
Having a South Africa specific course is increasingly standard at History Departments that include a focus on African history. In addition to the close parallels between conflicts in US and South African history, the richness of scholarly and pedagogical materials make it an ideal and accessible course to teach for a variety of students. Varied digitized collections and archives also allow for affordable course materials and possible future research projects for students who wish to continue their interests towards a senior thesis or project. South African history, in particular, offers both strong parallels and provocative divergences from patterns of recent history in the United States and elsewhere on Africa and in colonial and postcolonial nations. This course will not duplicate or replace any existing offerings. This is a combined course.
3
A survey of the sociocultural experiences of African peoples in the North American diaspora defining the historical, economic and political origins of the contemporary position of the Afro-American.
3 hr./wk.
A survey of the Black experience in America, this course will focus upon the major issues, trends, personalities, and literature of the period, the contradictions of Emancipation, and will examine Reconstruction, migration, and exodus, Black Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, Black power and nationalism.
3 hr./wk.
3
The various contemporary situations and problems peculiar to Afro-American women in the community and in American society. Entails a study of such institutions as marriage, family, childrearing practices, religion, politics and business. Attention also given to how she is projected in literature and theater. A comparative study of African and Caribbean women will be presented.
3 hr./wk.
Tracks parallel movements in the historical development of African and African-American cinema from their origins to the present. These two cinematic traditions and practices share similarities and differences in Afrocentric or ‘black’ storytelling and aesthetics—black cinema.
3 hr./wk.
This course provides an overall historical context for women as entrepreneurs and recognizes ethnic, racial, religious and socio-economic diversity of women entrepreneurs.
Our definition of who is an entrepreneur continues to change and what skills will be needed to make an impact. In the past entrepreneurs were seen as lone visionaries; today, teams, divisions and large enterprises are striving to be more entrepreneurial.
Connecting theory with practice, we infuse entrepreneurship throughout this curricular while asking how gender difference impacts the experiences of women entrepreneurs versus their male counterparts. Discussions will include raising capital, developing a viable business model and product, strategies to grow a company, leadership skills, startup successes and failures will be studied to glean lessons learned and innovation. This course will explore how women are positioned to create more businesses, jobs and stimulate the economy. The course is to provide participants with the tools, strategies, and confidence needed in order to assess, determine feasibility of, and launch and grow new businesses or reinvigorate existing businesses. This is the place where education and imagination meet, spurring the creation of innovative companies.
ECO 10100 or
ENGR 10100 or Zahn Innovation Center pre-approval
3 hr./wk.
Built around an interdisciplinary approach, the course draws on music, fashion, film, and visual arts to explore cultural and political dimensions of the African city-space. Emphasis is placed on the city as a space of creativity, realization of the individual, and a place in which adversity requires resourcefulness or ‘hustle’.
3 hr./wk.
Investigates changes in post-1990s African cinema that question established cultural norms about gender roles, homosexuality, transgenderism, and female agency. It also engages the debate about the extent to which the film medium can effect social change. Selected films are representative of the geographical and linguistic differences in African productions.
3 hr./wk.
A study of the arts with attention to thinking about blackness as a political, historical, cultural, and artistic proposition. Considers how the idea of race is staged in the arts and the ways that theory can function as a tool for the study of the arts. This is a critical studies class where the objects of study will include literature, contemporary art, and music.
3 hr./wk.
Considers the art of black film in relation to literature and music. Students study interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the art of cinema and how the idea of race is rendered in cinema.
3 hr./wk.