230322 Black Voices (U.S., Canadian, Caribbean) (S) (SoSe 2022)

This class will read and interpret selected works by major black writers from the U.S., the Caribbean, and Canada in context. The objective is to discuss black literary essays, novels, and memoirs as cultural, aesthetic and political texts. Students will engage with selected writings by authors like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, Jamaica Kincaid, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Edwidge Danticat, Afua Cooper among others. Thematically we will discuss the issues of identity, blackness, coloniality, resistance, and creativity at the intersection of gender and race. The structure of the class may change if we are confronted with another pure online format in the summer semester 2021. However, students may expect the following requirements: to participate regularly, provide a short written response to each text before class, and discuss texts in groups and class meetings. If the situation permits an international conference titled “Life Writing” at Bielefeld University (coordinators Raussert/Rocha Teixeira) will take place on June 24 and 25 , students of the class will be required to participate in selected sessions of the conference program.