Black Studies 270 - Reckoning with Slavery: History/Memory/Action

(Offered as BLST 270[US] and HIST 270) All around us are examples of Americans misunderstanding slavery—framing slavery as beneficial to the enslaved, minimizing its significance, ignoring what historians describe as its “afterlives.” Failure to understand slavery has led to all sorts of problems, from ordinary citizens who do not know that power and wealth discrepancies are rooted in history, to more dangerous ones who enact violence on Black people motivated by racist ideas born during slavery. It is essential for the good of society that members of the American public come to understand and reckon with slavery. This course introduces students to some of the most interesting and innovative work on the history of slavery in the United States, explores in depth several successful models for how different individuals and institutions have publicly reckoned with slavery, and asks students to come up with a project that helps the public learn about, come to terms with, and remember slavery.  We will start the semester examining historical questions such as how the logics and tools of capitalism shaped slavery, why slavery and racism developed together, how northerners profited from slavery, and how the culture of enslaved people helped them to resist. Next, we will examine several projects that have reckoned with slavery with varying degrees of success. Possible examples include Brown University’s study of its relationship to slavery, Monticello’s work incorporating the story of Sally Hemings into its site, and artwork grappling with the memory of slavery such as that of Kara Walker.  Finally, students will develop proposals for independent projects that educate the public on slavery in a particular place and memorialize slavery in that place. 

*This course is part of the "Serving the Greater Good Initiative."

Spring semester. Professor Herbin-Triant.

How to handle overenrollment: null

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: emphasis on readings, independent research, and field trips.