Black women and girls have long been the driving force of nearly every Black freedom movement that has swept the globe. Unfortunately, their voices and stories go underrepresented, further marginalized in a cycle of oppressive silence. These individuals who are often left out of pop culture and academia's feminist memory are the key organizers against misogynoir, capitalism and racism. Their grassroots and community based organizing is at the root of what we now refer to as Black Feminism and Black Feminist Thought. Over the next twelve weeks, we'll gather together to focus on these women- their organizing, literature, movement building, policy reform, and mobilization, continually centering those who were devoted to creating a world for Black women and girls to be free.

With the course instructor, young scholars will explore the works and activism of Black feminists, African feminists, and womanists from across the African Diaspora. Texts will include canonical anthologies, books, articles, and videos from people across history and culture as we work together to understand the ongoing debates and issues within Black Feminisms. We will also explore various iterations of Black feminism such as Hood Feminism, Hip-Hop Feminism and Trap Feminism, three modern movements that address the shortcomings of the popularized feminist movement.

Themes throughout the course include sexuality, gender, class, and reproductive health. As we explore authors and others from a variety of social locations we will also be discussing how access and academy work in helping us understand (or not) Black feminisms.

Week 1: 
- Introduction - The Necessity of Black Feminism (Intersectionality, Misogynoir, Stereotypes etc.)
- Early Black Feminists Set The Stage
- (Black) Feminist Groups and Mainstream Exclusion
Week 2: 
-Triple Oppression, Legacies of Slavery & (Mis)Representations of Black Womanhood
- 19th Century Black Feminism (Black Club Women, Abolition & More)
- 20th Century Black Feminism (Reconstruction Era, Civil Rights Era & More)
Week 3: 
- Literary Icons Prioritize Black Feminism
Week 4:
- Black Girl Feminisms Pt. 1
Week 5:
- Black Girl Feminisms Pt. 2
Week 6:
- New Black Feminisms & The Third Wave
Week 7:
- Black Feminism in the 21st Century (Modern Pop Culture & New Concerns)
Week 8: 
- Final Projects & Closing Thoughts

Course Reading Schedule
Week 1-2: Women, Race, and Class by Angela Davis
Week 3: In Search of Our Mothers Garden by Alice Walker
Week 4-5: Sula by Toni Morrison
Week 6: How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor 
Week 7-8: Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks

Students will receive a course journal in PDF format.