This interdisciplinary course explores the intersections of race, power, and the myth of meritocracy through an examination of African American’s relationship to education as a civic institution in the United States. We engage with seminal texts written by W.E.B. Du Bois and Carter Woodson to learn how, historically, African American communities subverted white supremacist efforts to deny Black Americans access to what is often considered the key to upward social mobility. We trace the emergence of African American education as an activist praxis from pre-Civil War to present day. A special emphasis is placed on the importance of the Black church, Black educators, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to Black thrival. (Not offered 2024-25).

1 unit

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