BLST 208 African American History II: The Great Migration and the Transformation of American Culture
This interdisciplinary course examines the migration of six million African Americans who left the rural South to move to cities in the North, Midwest and West in the first half of the twentieth century. Beginning with the “First Great Migration” of 1910-1930 and continuing through the “Second Great Migration” of the 1940s through the 1960s, we will explore the ways that this unprecedented demographic shift laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement, the quest for Black power, and the ongoing quest for social justice. Throughout the course, we will remain attentive to the way that Black migrants created and nurtured the new forms of music, art, and ways of being that ultimately transformed American culture. By analyzing the dynamics of African American history in this way, we will better understand the relationship between the history and culture of Black Americans and the culture and politics of the United States.
This course is part of the Humanities for Just Communities curriculum.
Cross Listed Courses
AMST 208