Gender Studies 204BX - Women and Gender in the Study of Culture: 'Introduction to Black Sexual Cultures/Sexuality Studies'

This course examines the ways in which race, gender, and class have shaped the experiences of people of African descent. It explores how the concept of sexuality offers a unique lens for rethinking both historical and contemporary discussions on the formation of Black identity and personhood, while being particularly attentive to a queer archive. By prioritizing Blackness, the course critically engages with the interconnections between race, gender, and sexuality, aiming to separate whiteness from LGBTQ+ studies and heterosexuality from Black studies. With a focus on how Black individuals have asserted social and sexual agency despite systemic oppression, we will draw on frameworks coming out of critical race theory, Black feminist thought, queer and trans*-of-color critique, as well as attend to genres of creation that include literature, art, performance, new media, and the erotic. By the end of this course, students will have gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity and diversity of Black sexuality, as well as the cultural and political implications that surround its productions. They will be equipped with the critical tools to engage in meaningful dialogues about representation, expression, and the power of pleasure within the context of Black life and sexual legacies.