Black Radicalism in US History.21:014:400:01TTh 2:30-3:50PM CON-319

Professor Paul Heidemanheidepau@pegasus.rutgers.eduOffice Hours by Appointment.

Course Description:This class will examine the Black radical tradition in the United States. From the time of slavery to the present, African Americans have at various times engaged in political action aimed not merely at reforming American society, but fundamentally reshaping it. Throughout the semester, we will look at the various manifestations of this impulse, engaging with an assortment of primary and secondary texts. Through our study of these texts, we will ask what this tradition can tell us about American history and society more broadly, as well as what Black radicalism’s internal strengths and weaknesses are.

Attendance Policy:This is a discussion-centered class. Reading and attendance are mandatory. More than two absences will result in lowered final grade. The exact extent of this penalty will be decided based on a consideration of other work over the semester. Absences for purposes such as illness requiring medical attention, family emergencies, etc. If a total of more than eight classes are missed, university policy requires an automatic F.

Required Texts: David Walker – David Walker’s Appeal, Richard Wright – Uncle Tom’s Children, Robert F. Williams – Negroes with Guns, CLR James – The Black Jacobins, Ahmed Shawki – Black Liberation and Socialism.

Books for review:Barbara Ransby – Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement, Carole Boyce Davis – To the Left of Karl Marx, Gerald Horne – Race Woman, George Lipsitz – A Life in the Struggle

Grading Rubric:Weekly Writing Assignments: 30%Class Participation/Attendance: 20%Book review: 20%Final Exam: 30%

Week 1 – Class Introduction.

Th, 9/1 – What is Black Radicalism?

Week 2 – Slavery and Freedom in the American Revolution.

T, 9/6 Read Peter Linebaugh and Marcus Rediker The Many Headed Hydra, Ch. 7 “A Motley Crew in the American Revolution” [blackboard]

Week 3 – Slave Resistance and Rebellion.

T, 9/13 Read Shawki, Black Liberation and Socialism Chs. 1 and 2

Th, 9/15 Response Paper Due. Read David Walker’s Appeal

Week 4 – Slave Resistance and Rebellion, II.

T, 9/20 Read Eugene Genovese Roll, Jordan, Roll: The World the Slaves Made Book Four “Whom God Hath Hedged In,” 587-621 [blackboard]

Th, 9/22 Read RJR 622-660.

Week 5 - Reconstruction and Populism.

T, 9/27 Read BLS Ch. 4.

Th, 9/29 Fifty Word Wonder due

Week 6 – The New Negro.

T, 10/4 Read BLS Chs. 5-6.

Th, 10/6

Week 7 – The New Negro.

T, 10/11 In-class reading of Mary P. Burrill’s “Aftermath”

Th, 10/13 Response Paper due.

Week 8 - Depression and Class Radicalism.

T, 10/18 Read BLS Ch. 7.

Th, 10/20 Read Richard Wright, Uncle Tom’s Children, “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow” and “Fire and Cloud”

Week 9- Depression and Class Radicalism.

T, 10/25 Read UTC, “Big Boy Leaves Home” and “Bright and Morning Star”

Th, 10/27 Fifty Word Wonder due

Week 10 - Black Radicalism and History.

T, 11/1 Read CLR James, The Black Jacobins Chs I & II.

Th, 11/3 Read James, Chs. V & VII

Week 11 - Black Radicalism and History

T, 11/8 NO CLASS

Th, 11/10 NO CLASS

Week 12 – Black Radicalism and History

T, 11/15 BOOK REVIEWS DUE Read James, Chs. XI & XII

Th, 11/17 Response Paper due Read James, Ch XIII.

Week 13 - Civil Rights and Black Power (Violence and non-violence)

T, 11/22 Read BLS Ch. 8, Watch Deacons for Defense.

Week 14 – Civil Rights and Black Power (Violence and non-violence)

T, 11/29 Read Robert F. Williams, Negroes with Guns

Th, 12/1 Fifty Word Wonder due

Week 14 - Civil Rights and Black Power (Black Feminism)

T, 12/6 Read Angela Davis, Women, Race, and Class 87-171, [blackboard].

Th, 12/8 Read Davis, 172-244.

Week 15 - Contemporary Lineages (hip hop, prisons, anti-imperialism)

T, 12/13 Read BLS Chs. 12 & 13.