CSP 72 From Black Panthers to Black Lives Matter: Black Women in Social Movements

Social protest and activism play a crucial role in society; they call attention to important issues and work to bring about necessary change. Social movements are an essential part of a flourishing democracy. While Black women activists have often been ignored or erased by narratives within liberation movements that privileged the contributions of men, the role Black women have played in social movements has been significant. When Alicia Garza, Patrice Cullers and Opal Tometi founded Black Lives Matter in 2013, they followed numerous Black women throughout history fighting for justice, equality and human dignity. Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Marsha P. Johnson and Angela Davis are just a few of the many Black women activists that led the way. This course will examine various texts from different genres including fiction, poetry, digital media, and scholarly essays in order to critically discuss what impact Black women have had on social movements, protests, and political activism and what lies ahead for Black women activists and systemic change. Students will engage in discussion, critical reading, and written analysis in preparation for writing an academic research paper. Texts will include works from Angela Davis, Audre Lorde, Janet Mock, Linda E. McMurry, Kimberly Springer, and others.