This syllabus is subject to change as the course evolves. Please stay tuned for updates on the course blog and via weekly announcements. If you have any questions about the syllabus or course materials, feel free to let me know.
Here’s the link to the readings: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TYLoH3HOIiEF1B-z6hmFpAal8b8A24TX?usp=share_link
Week 1: Welcome to Black Literatures
8/26
Introduction
8/28
Lorde, Audre. “Poetry is Not a Luxury.” In The Selected Works of Audre Lorde. WW Norton and Company, 2020.
https://makinglearning.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/poetry-is-not-a-luxury-audre-lorde.pdf
Week 2: Bridges
9/2
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. “On Pharaohs.” In The Message. One World, Penguin Random House, 2024. (Pages 21-35)* Introductory section before landing in Dakar.
9/4
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. “On Pharaohs.” In The Message. One World, Penguin Random House, 2024. (Pages 36-61)* The Dakar Journey.
Week 3: Facing and Resisting Enslavement
9/9
Arroyo Pizarro, Yolanda. “Arrowhead.” In Negras, Stories of Puerto Rican Slave Women. Boreales, 2012.
9/11
Hurston, Zora Neale, Ibram X. Kendi, and Loveis Wise. Magnolia Flower. Amistad, 2022. https://youtu.be/chdbi-RKerg?si=ffWiBwKIU-fWm4Kw
Class Presentation
Week 4: Afterlives of Slavery
9/16
Guimaraes, Geni. “Metamorphosis.” In Contemporary Afro-Brazilian Short Fiction. UCL Press, 2024.
Class Presentation
9/18 In-class screening + discussion
13th (Ava Duvernay, 2016)
+
Baldwin, James. “Who Saw Him Die? I, Say the Fly. ” In The Devil Finds Work. The Dial Press, 1976. (Excerpt)
Class Presentation
Week 5: The Death of a Nation
9/22-9/24 No class schedule
9/25
Clark, P. Djèlí. Ring Shout. Tor Nightfire, 2020.
Class Presentation
Week 6: Monstrous White Supremacy
9/30
Clark, P. Djèlí. Ring Shout. Tor Nightfire, 2020.
Class Presentation
Del Rosario De Regino,Ethan Valentino
10/1- 10/2 No class schedule
Week 7: Hell Fighters
10/7
Clark, P. Djèlí. Ring Shout. Tor Nightfire, 2020.
Class Presentation
10/9
Clark, P. Djèlí. Ring Shout. Tor Nightfire, 2020.
Class Presentation
Week 8: Midterm Examination
10/14 Classes follow a Monday schedule
10/16 The midterm project is due via email.
Week 9: Mourning and Gender
10/21 Asynchronous Screening and In-class discussion
Black Girl (Ousmane Sembène, 1966)
10/23
Garricks, Chimeka. “River.” In A Broken People’s Playlist. Harper Via, 2020.
Class Presentation
Week 10: Blacxican Pónk
10/28
Clayton, Marcus. “¡Pónk! in Three Acts.” In ¡Pónk! Nightbook Books, 2025.
Class Presentation
10/30
Clayton, Marcus. “¡Pónk! in Three Acts.” In ¡Pónk! Nightbook Books, 2025
Week 11: Blackouts and Cuttings
11/4
Mendez, Jasminne. City Without Altar. Noemi Press, 2022.
Class Presentation
11/6
Mendez, Jasminne. City Without Altar. Noemi Press, 2022.
Class Presentation
Week 12: Blackouts Against the Carceral State
11/11
Betts, Reginald Dwayne. Felon: Poems. Norton, 2019. (Selection)
Class Presentation
11/13
Betts, Reginald Dwayne. Felon: Poems. Norton, 2019. (Selection)
Week 13: Poetry on Film
11/25 A Black Studies Colloquium Open-Classroom Event
Right On! (The Original Last Poets & Herbert Danska, 1971)
11/27-11/28 College closed
Week 14: Poetry on Record- Group Presentations
12/2*
12/4*
Week 15: Poetry on Record- Group Presentations
12/9*
*See poetry albums and instructions in the assignment section of our syllabus.
12/11
Conclusion
Final Examination
TBD
12/22 End of Fall Term