Black Studies 442 - The Political Philosophy of W.E.B. DuBois II

(Offered as POSC 442 and BLST 442) In this course, which is Part II of a two-semester course, students engage the central political philosophical ideas of W.E.B. Du Bois's later two major works, Black Reconstruction in America (1935) and Dusk of Dawn (1940). In doing so, we also engage some of the major secondary interpretive sources assessing his ideas. These sources (and Du Bois's) will force us to engage philosophy, history, sociology, and other fields and areas/themes of study including theories of political economy, histories of slavery and capitalism, twentieth century labor history, anti-colonial thought, and mid-twentieth century Black political thought. Thematically, we focus on any number of ideas: the politics of leadership and representation, the meaning and character of Black identity and development, the politics of resistance to Jim Crow, the relationship between politics and autobiography, the politics of colonialism and anti-colonialism, racial capitalism, and citizenship. 

Limited to 18 students. Spring semester. Assistant Professor Loggins.

How to handle overenrollment: Preference to POSC and BLST majors. I will admit no students over the cap.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: There is an emphasis in the class on written work. More specifically, students will be expected to write short summaries each week of each of the major chapters. At the end of the semester, students will be expected to write a short bibliographic essay on two of the major secondary source materials covering one of the books.