Introduction to Black Social & Political Life (215-0-20)

Instructors

Charlene Antoinette Carruthers

Meeting Info

Fisk Hall 114: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

This course is a survey of the contours of Black life from the perspective of the social sciences. What is the Black community, geographically speaking? Is that different from the social or political Black community? What is the current condition of the Black family and has it changed or stayed the same over time? How much wealth is in the Black community, and how does that compare with the wealth of White or Latinx people? What are key concerns of Black politics, and how unified or fractured are Black political demands? What does Black identity look like among Black youth? What does Black youth culture portend for Black futures? This course answers these questions using insights from sociology, political science, psychology, anthropology, economics, history, and related fields. By studying the social relations, political agency, and economic practices of African Americans and other Black folk in the diaspora, we will develop a more complex understanding of the forces, opportunities, and constraints operating within Black communities.

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Distro Area
Interdisciplinary Distro-rules apply
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Ethics & Values Distro Area