First-Year Seminars 110XT - 1619: U.S. Slavery and Its Legacy

This seminar will examine The New York Times' 1619 Project -- an examination of slavery in the historical and ongoing political and social development of the United States -- from many sides. Beginning our approach of this work as a body of scholarly and popular writing, we will critically scrutinize how these arguments are presented and why they do or do not work in their current forms, questions that will include the criticism of the series voiced by professional historians. The seminar is geared for students not only interested in learning about how slavery has shaped diverse aspects of American life, such as its arts, music, economics and politics, but also how authors, write and make arguments for the reading public.

Mount Holyoke first-year students only, by placement.