GER 270 - Black in Berlin

Berlin reflects African American history and many historical, political and cultural traces. This seminar will compare the troubled histories of the U.S. and Germany as we investigate the very different, but interwoven, changing definitions of, and expectations for, race, gender and identity. We will begin by considering Berlin as an unexpected place of openness and opportunity for African Americans, as it was here that W.E.B. DuBois analyzed race not as a biological but as a social phenomenon. We will continue to the deadly racial catastrophes of the early twentieth century and the changing social and economic climates of both countries. We will continue the course with the ecstatic German welcome of presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008 and the hope for a new post- racial era. Our final weeks will examine present day Afro-German culture and activism.

Credits 1

Notes
Cross-listed with WGS 274 Black in Berlin. Course taught in English.

Area
Humanities

Division
Arts and Humanities

Foundation
Beyond the West

Compass Attributes
Global Honors, Humanities, Structure/Power/Inequality, Taylor and Lane Scholars