AAS 111 is a team-taught course that introduces students to the study of Africa and its Diaspora in the Americas and West Indies, as well as Europe. The course takes a multimedia, interdisciplinary approach to a range of historical, literary, artistic, religious, economic, and political questions crucial to the understanding of the experiences of people of African descent.

Using maps, films, the visual arts, music, important historical texts, and contemporary writings, the course will focus on four major themes:

1. migration and the middle passage
2. slavery and resistance
3. segregation, colonialism, and freedom movements
4. comparative dimensions of race.

A course website with the syllabus, schedule, announcements, and additional information is accessible at: https://ctools.umich.edu.

Course Requirements:

1. Regular class and section attendance is crucial to success in this course. Students are held responsible for the assigned readings, any assigned section writing assignments, and for taking part in section discussions (20%)
2. A midterm exam
3. One five-page essay
4. A final exam

The essay and exams will be based on lectures, discussion sections, films, and readings.

Intended Audience:

This course is appropriate for both majors and non-majors. Majors should complete this course by the sophomore year.

Class Format:

The course will meet in a lecture and audio/film format twice a week, with one discussion section per week.