Making Urban African America

In this seminar we will primarily explore: (1) the history of how a particular urban African American environment (Black Chicago) was built; and (2) the ways that artists from that community used their creative media to chronicle and explain the reactions of the people housed in that built environment. We will draw on readings in history, sociology, geography, and critical race theory as we map the development of the city. Armed with those insights, we will examine creative texts from a variety of media including visual art, literature, music, and film.