The state of black America is a major topic in Sociology. While social
scientists have noted some progress in certain areas of the community, many
others point to persistent and burgeoning issues (e.g. black family crisis,
crime, gender issues, the responsibility of the black middle class, etc.) In
this course The Souls of Black Folk by Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois will guide us. Dr. Du
Bois, also known as the father of black sociology, published Souls in 1903, yet
the topics Du Bois discusses are still vexing today. As we proceed, we will
discuss the implications of our examination of Souls toward black family issues,
the responsibility of the black middle class, and interlocking race and gender
issues for understanding contemporary black society. We will ask ourselves,
‘what has been done to address these conditions’? Our findings will reveal
diverse and often contradicting strategies. The goal of the course is for each
student to look at black culture and society in a broader and more complex way.
For more information, go to “Blackboard”.