In this course we will study African American literature written from the end of the 19th century—known as the "nadir" (lowest point) in African American history—through the beginning of the 20th century, the moment that gave birth to the "New Negro" of the Harlem Renaissance. These decades represent a period of intense cultural production that reflected both pessimism about post-Civil War racial violence in the US and optimism over new opportunities for black artists. How did African American writers conceive of the role of letters and literature in the national debates over freedpeople’s rights to citizenship? How did they try to represent differences in the black community with dialect and invocations of the “folk,” and how did they mobilize these cultural forms in their search for new racial, political ideals? And finally, we will discuss the methods and issues pertaining to the periodization of African American literature and history in the Academy. Readings include novels, poetry and short stories by noted and less familiar authors, including Charles Chesnutt, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Pauline Hopkins and Sutton Griggs, in addition to secondary critical material.

Intended Audience:

Attendance, participation, flexibility, and willingness to learn new skills, and open-mindedness and collaborative approach toward being part of a diverse intellectual community.

Class Format:

My online class will meet synchronously at its currently scheduled time.