Black Studies 329 - Rescuing Democracy: Ferguson, USA

(Offered as HIST-329 [US/TR/TS] BLST-329 [US] and EDST-329.) In 2014-2015, young Black people in St. Louis and Ferguson rescued American democracy, and it scared the nation.  Their agitation on behalf of 18-year-old Mike Brown, who fatally resisted an overbearing white police officer, virtually brought millions of people to a sleepy suburb.  Brown’s last stand sparked a democracy movement throughout the country -- in places like Memphis, Baltimore, New York, Dallas, and Minneapolis.  This course will cover the making of a modern freedom movement. The bold action of primarily Black demonstrators provoked Americans to seek answers to three fundamental questions:  what is the precise purpose of policing; who will protect Black youth; and, who is eligible for citizen rights?  In challenging the U.S. police state, young democrats called on people of good conscience to see the overreach of a militarized police force. In Ferguson, many young Black residents, believing that law enforcement was more interested in protecting property and capital than them, moved to protect themselves.  Although they felt justified in destroying the systems that had neglected and abused them, Black youth, as citizens, influenced politics at every level.  In that way, they fortified American democracy by making law enforcement recognize their constitutional rights.  Navigating articles, media clips, monographs, edited works, oral histories, and art, this class will delve into the role of traditional and unconventional politics in the creation of policies that affect the lives of all Americans. Meets twice weekly.

Fall semester. Professor Bradley.

How to handle overenrollment: BLST, EDST or HIST majors

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Students will read the equivalent of 6-7 books and write the equivalent of 25 pages in sum total.