Critical Social Inquiry 0117 - Freedom Dreams: Civil Rights and Black Power Movements at the Grassroots

In this course, we will examine a range of organizing struggles that took place during the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements. By reading scholarly articles and activist interviews, we will explore critical debates and questions raised by researchers and movement veterans. What role do journalist, activists, and scholars play in shaping how we remember the past? How do African-American communities give meaning to the "Movement." Do we understand the "movement" in terms of understanding the leaders, determining the nature of the political climate, or by examining community traditions? When do we begin our exploration---in the 1950s, 1960s or perhaps sooner? Does the emergence of newly independent nations in Africa and Asia shape activist conceptions of civil rights, human rights, violence, nonviolence, citizenship or nation building? How do the discourses and struggles of the 1960s animate our understanding of social change today? This course will teach foundational Africana Studies and historical methods, including strategies for finding and interpreting primary sources and radical newspapers Keywords:African American History, Africana Studies, social movement studies, radical newspapers The content of this course deals with issues of race and power.

In/Justice Students should expect to spend 8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time