Critical Social Inquiry 0246 - Black Boyhood Studies: Race, Youth, and Masculinity

From the success of the Oscar-winning film Moonlight to the global popularity of hip-hop stars Chance the Rapper and Kendrick Lamar, America indulges in the cultural work that young black men and boys create to express their unique experiences at the intersections of race, youth, and masculinity in film and music. Yet, when black boys and young men are not on stage or the screen performing to entertain spectators, they are oftentimes perceived as threats and violently policed, incarcerated, and killed. This course explores how the interconnections of race, gender, youth, and geography influence performances and cultural perceptions of black masculinities in America since the twentieth century. Students will use Queer of Color and Feminist theories to analyze representations of black masculinity in literature (e.g., Kiese Laymon, Richard Wright), film, art, music, and social media. Students will also study current social science research on black masculinities in Boyhood Studies.

Power, Community and Social Justice Writing and Research Multiple Cultural Perspectives Students are expected to spend 6-8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time.