This course will introduce students to the study of African American literature by using works from a variety of genres to address what the class comes to determine are theunderlying generative themes. Through reading and class discussion we will examine the significance of terms like "race," "racism,""identity," "history," "oppression," "experience, " and "writing" as they pertain to the African American literary enterprise. Authors in the course will include David Walker, James Baldwin, Harriet Wilson, Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, and August Wilson. Course work will consist of weekly responses to the readings, short critical essays, and a final project.

Note: Students who are concentrating in 20th-century American literature may use this course as among the five in the concentration; and, obviously, majors concentrating in African-American literature will find this course ideal.