Critical Social Inquiry 0214 - People Without History

Too often 'Western' historical narratives consider Africans and African Diasporans as 'People Without History'. Such a notion also refers to people who possess few or no formally written histories. Employing historical archaeology, this class examines the material traces individuals and communities in the past left behind as important, alternative historical resources for interrogating the European colonial library, and re-writing the histories of slavery and the slave trade. Excavating the "hidden histories" of Africans and African diasporans, free and enslaved, our aim is to insert the voices of those marginalized, silenced and erased. We will participate in field trips to museums and heritage sites in the area. We will also engage in informal discussions with archaeologists and heritage specialists working in Atlantic Africa and the diaspora, as well as those working with African collections in the United States and Europe.

Power, Community and Social Justice Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research Field trip fee: $50.00 approximately. Students are expected to spend 6-8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time.