AAS 2090 - The Black Lives Matter Movement and the Origins of Modern Black Protest

Credits: 3

Description: In this course students examine sociological concepts and historical themes as part of exploring the origins and nature of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Beginning with brief coverage of Black resistance in the colonial period to the Abolitionist Movement students will experience an in-depth exploration of modern Black protest in the post-World War II civil rights decades and continues into the late 20th century with high-profile instances of police brutality. The remainder of the course follows a chronology, beginning in 2013 with the creation of #BlackLivesMatter and the growth of a new era of black protest. In addition to high-profile incidences of police brutality, attention is given to movement dynamics as shaped by Internet social media platforms and cable news. Students will also analyze the #SayHerName movement, which has highlighted police violence against black women. Issues concerning misogynoir are also covered, including black radical feminist critiques of black male patriarchy, and debates within the black community about the movement’s focus. Finally, students will come away with a broad understanding of what systemic institutionalized racism is, as distinguished from incidences of racial violence by individual acts of terrorism or white supremacist terrorist organizations.

Note: The course is crosslisted. Credit will be granted for only one prefix.

University Requirement(s): Ethnic Studies & Social Justice

Cross Listed Course(s): HIS 2090, PSC 2090, SOC 2090