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African & African American Studies

AFAM 050: Defining Blackness: National and International Approaches to African American Identity
Social & Behavioral Sciences/Other (SS) ; US Diveristy (US) [GC Social Science, Cultural Diversity]
Timothy McMillan
We have all heard that America is an increasingly multi-cultural and diverse nation. And yet, the central concept of race is often poorly defined. Blackness and whiteness as racial categories have existed in the United States from the earliest colonial times but their meanings have changed with every generation. What makes a person black in the 21st century is increasingly complex and a subject of much debate. Position papers responding to films and readings, class discussion, and a final project exploring race and society will be used to evaluate your understanding of the concept of blackness in the United States and the larger global community.

AFAM 051 [006K]: Masquerades of Blackness
U.S. Diversity (US); Visual and Performing Arts (VP)
Charlene B. Regester
This course is designed to investigate how race has been represented in cinema historically with an emphasis on representation of race when blackness is masqueraded. In this context, the word “masquerade” means to disguise one’s racial identity. This course will launch an investigative inquiry into how race is represented on the screen in various time periods, how we as spectators are manipulated by these cinematic constructions of race, how race is marked or coded other than through visual representations in it’s film “innocence” . Students will be required to view designated films, participate in weekly discussions, and conduct research to gather related literature that focus in particular on the films introduced in class and in general, on racial masquerade.

AFRI 050 [006K]: Kings, Presidents and Generals:  Africa's Bumpy Road to Democracy
Communication Intensive (CI); Beyond the North Atlantic (BN)
Bereket H Selassie
This seminar is designed to introduce first year students to Africa’s modern history and politics. Starting with a brief, recent history of the continent, we will focus on the variety of systems of government in Africa and the challenges facing them. Traditional institutions, juxtaposed with modern institutions, will be discussed with a special focus on the types of leadership involved in such institutions. A major part of the course will pose questions such as:  

• What has been Africa’s record in the march toward democracy?
• What are the obstacles to democratic transition and how have Africans tried to overcome such obstacles?
• What are the roles of the constitutional systems and the forms of government in advancing democracy?
• What is the role of leadership?
• What difference does the type of leadership (monarchy, republican, etc.) make in the march toward democracy?