123251 AR Literature Course - Literature 1/2 (MA) British/Irish/New English & American/North American Studies (2018S)

This interactive course examines the emergence and evolution of the African-American literary tradition originating in the experience of slavery and continuing to the present day. Arranged chronologically, the course traces the journey of African Americans from slavery toward greater freedom, justice, and social equality, spanning such literary traditions as the fugitive slave narrative, the literature of Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement, and vernacular culture. We will incorporate a broad range of genres, including poetry, fiction, the short story, the essay, the letter, and autobiography. Engaging with a culturally diverse literature, we will learn to analyze and critically evaluate how art and politics cross-fertilize to create a unique cultural heritage and literary discourse.