AAST 355 Black Masculinity and Manhood (3)

Throughout American history, the perception of black masculinity and manhood has often been associated with negative stereotypes such as docility in the antebellum period to criminality in the post-civil rights era. The rise of hip hop in the 1980’s, the Million Man March in the mid-1990s, and the election of President Barack Obama in 2008 has brought the idea of black masculinity to the forefront of contemporary America. It has given scholars a breadth of resources to critically analyze and explore the subject further from the perspective of various disciplines such as sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, and political science. This course will explore socio-historical components of what constitutes black masculinity.  We will visit such themes as violence, sex, crime, sports, sexuality, geography, hip hop, religion, feminism, and black power. In addition to examining these themes and ideas through literary works and popular culture, the course will also review film, music, art, and current events to further dissect and add to the field of black masculine identity. 
Course Frequency: Fall and Spring