AFA-1010 Introduction to African-American Studies

Credits 3
This course introduces the inter-disciplinary study of the life and culture of persons of African heritage in the United States. Moreover, it explores cultural and historic ties between various African peoples, as well as the multi-cultural American context.
Course Outcomes

Analyze cultural similarities and differences among persons of African descent in the Americas.
Identify major historic events that provide the context for the African-American experience, including the development of Western African civilizations that pre-date the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the expansion of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and slavery in the United States, and the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements.
Analyze the extent to which arguments about race and racism within classic literature of African-American Studies continue to be relevant to the experiences of African Americans in the 21st century.
Discuss potential ways in which individuals and communities can better address contemporary issues that African Americans face today, such as the racial wealth gap, racial imbalances in the criminal justice system, challenges to political empowerment, and/or strengthening family relations.