Ma Rainey. James Baldwin. Nina Simone. Marvin Gaye. LeBron James, Beyoncé. Each of these individuals has been a critical part of an American cultural landscape in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The cultural work of each is also intertwined with larger political and social issues around race and the African American experience. In this seminar, we will analyze black expressive culture (such as in music, art, literature, and television) and black everyday culture (such as through hair, fashion, sports, and language). Focusing on the last century to the present, we will situate black culture within a historical context that includes segregation, discrimination, and racial violence, as well as organized protests, civil rights, and the politics of the hip-hop era. We will explore related historical issues at the University of Michigan. In our discussions of the past and present, we will seek answers to two broad questions: What is the relationship between black culture and the black historical experience? What is the relationship between “black” culture and “American” culture?

Course Requirements:

Exams and papers will be completed and submitted asynchronously. Oral presentations and participation will be synchronous.

Class Format:

This course will use Canvas for all asynchronous online components. Synchronous meetings will be conducted through Zoom. Students should have access to an internet connected computer, a camera and microphone.