Critical Social Inquiry 0134 - Hip Hop Education

Our educational present is partially defined by the rise of hip hop-based education (HHBE) as a theory, method, and practice for re-engaging young people with school-based learning and shaping the next generation of activists and intellectuals, especially in urban schools with Black and Latino youth. However, there is clear lack of consensus on the purposes and efficacy of HHBE. Taking an expansive approach to HHBE to include spoken word and performance pedagogies, this course will explore the politics of liberation at the core of this educational movement to re-humanize educational theory and practice. Guiding questions include- How is HHBE being incorporated into traditional subjects such as mathematics, science, English, and social studies? Is HHBE a successful strategy for reaching students who are written off as unteachable? Do spoken word pedagogies offer a blueprint for freedom for incarcerated youth? As HHBE moves from the margins to the center of education discourse, how does its purpose and practice change?

Culture, Humanities, and Languages Power, Community and Social Justice Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research Students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.