African-American Literature

This survey course will introduce students to African-American literature pertaining to enslavement and freedom struggles (1700s-1865), Reconstruction to the New Negro (1865-1919), the Harlem Renaissance (1919-1940), Realism, Naturalism, Modernism (1940-1960), the Black Arts Era (1960-1975), and Black-American literature after 1975 to present-day. Course discussions and assignments will task students with identifying and critically analyzing the genre, theme, and relevant literary devices of assigned readings. Students will also explore the intersections between race, politics, and gender to achieve a comprehensive reading of the texts.

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