Studies in African American Literature (366-0-20)
Topic
Black Feminist World-making
Instructors
Justin L Mann
Meeting Info
Locy Hall 214: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
What might the world like if it were made in the image of black feminist visionaries? How and why should we invite those imagined futures into our political and social realities? In this course, students will survey a range of writing in Black feminist and queer-of-color theory, paying special attention to the world-making potential of radical thinking. Students will read foundational texts including those by Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, and Kimberlé Crenshaw, alongside more recent contributions from scholars including Jennifer C. Nash, Kevin Quashie, and Nicole Fleetwood to understand the shape and contour of contemporary black feminist world-making. Additionally, students will examine the veil between literature and theory and consider the ways in which these two genres of writing bleed into and reinforce one another. This course is reading intensive with weekly writing assignments and a large summative writing assignment.
Teaching Method
Seminar style discussion.
Evaluation Method
Weekly assignments, presentation, final project.
Class Materials (Required)
Toni Morrison, Sula
Angela Y. Davis, Are Prisons Obsolete?
Ntozake Shange, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Course Reader
Texts will be available at: Norris Bookstore.
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity