The African American studies minor is designed for students who want to explore the African American experience from a variety of perspectives, both historical and contemporary. While the program is useful for personal development, it should also enhance students’ careers in a variety of areas, from law and medicine to education and politics.
A study of selected African American literary works that explore significant cultural and social issues and major themes as they have been depicted or reflected within the scope of African American writings. The course explores important themes and motifs inherent in African American literature and how those themes are relevant to current issues.
A study of the political, social, and economic history of African Americans from African societies and the slave trade to the present. This course focuses on the interpretation and analysis of the central problems and themes of United States history from the perspective of African American history. Topics include slavery, transnational black communities and cultures, the significance of gender and class, segregation, and civil rights struggles.
Students will watch a series of documentary films that looked into the way gender, ethnicity, age, and nationality are presented in the media. Meanwhile, they’ll have a face-to-face conversation with practitioners and scholars from the U.S. and other nations to discuss hot-button topics in our society, including the origins of stereotypes and the representation of gender and ethnicity in media. Ultimately, students are expected to have a comprehensive understanding of race, gender, sexual preference, religion, nationality, and even age.
