Course Description

Black Voices: Introduction to African American literature studies major African American authors and literary movements from the vernacular tradition (such as oral epics, linguistic elements from African languages, folktales, call and response, improvisational practices, sermons, and music genres such as spirituals, gospel, blues, jazz, rap, hip-hop), the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920-30s, Realism, Naturalism, Modernism, the Black Arts Era of the 1960-70s, Civil Rights Speeches, to present-day literary works. Texts include novels, poetry, dramatic plays or essays penned by Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Gwendolyn Brooks, Malcolm X, Audre Lorde, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, bell hooks, Toni Morrison, Octavia E. Butler, Caryl Phillips, Colson Whitehead, Ta-Nehisi Coates, N.K. Jemisin, and more.