Twentieth-Century Africa

Description

Twentieth Century Africa delves into the complex and problematic narratives surrounding Sub-Saharan Africa, examining how the continent has been historically misrepresented, misunderstood, and "mistaken" in various contexts. We critically analyze the notion of "Mistaking Africa" focusing on deconstructing stereotypes, challenging misconceptions, and promoting a more nuanced understanding of Sub-Saharan Africa's diverse cultures, histories, and contemporary realities. Students will read literature, analyze popular culture, and examine primary sources to study European imperialism and racism; colonial systems of forced labor and wage labor; African resistance and collaboration; the Christianizing and westernizing effects of colonial education; the transformation of gender, class, and ethnic identities, and African nations’ struggle for political autonomy.