Instructor: Boutelle
TR 9:30 – 10:50 AM
This course examines literature by Black writer-activists and their accomplices spanning the long struggle for Black liberation in the US, from the 18th century to today. We will focus on fiction, memoirs, poetry, and music produced during four critical periods that illustrate the intersection of literature and activism: the antislavery movement, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, and Black Lives Matter. Through our readings and discussions, we’ll explore the rhetorical, political, and narrative strategies that Black writers and their accomplices use to make art that advances the cause of social justice, as well as the ethical dilemmas and imperatives that shape their labors.