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Academic Year 2005/2006

Debating Blackness
SOC 254 SP
Crosslistings:
AFAM 254

Who is black? What is blackness? What is black culture? The answers to these questions depend on whom you ask. In this course, we will address various controversies around the meaning of blackness by reviewing long-standing scholarly debates in the study of African Americans and by forcing different perspectives to engage each other. We will use these debates to develop an understanding of the concept of race and of racial relations.

MAJOR READINGS

F. James Davis, WHO IS BLACK? ONE NATION'S DEFINITION
William E. Cross, Jr., SHADES OF BLACK: DIVERSITY IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN IDENTITY
Kerry Ann Rockquemore and David L. Brunsma, BEYOND BLACK: BIRACIAL IDENTITY IN AMERICA
Other books and articles to be announced.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Four papers, class participation.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Preference given to Sociology and African American Studies majors.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS SOC    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: SOC151 OR SOC152 Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006

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