Time Schedule:
Louis O Chude-Sokei
ENGL 318
Seattle Campus
Considers how generic forms have been discussed, distributed, and valued in the larger context of African American, or other African-Diasporic literary studies. Explores how black writers and artists treat the terms and conventions of generic forms in response, and comparison, to their cultural treatment of others. Offered: jointly with AFRAM 318; AWSp.
Class description
Black and Immigrant in America: New Memoirs and Autobiographies.
African-American literature begins with the personal narratives of slaves. It has also featured a great many influential memoirs. These facts emphasize that personal experiences have become significant as methods to expand history, criticize the national story and generate new methods of self-exploration alongside cultural analysis and social/political commentary. Of course, American literature as a whole also owes a great deal to the personal narratives of immigrants. This class intends to explore a contemporary moment when both of those frames of reference—African-American and immigrant, black and foreign—collide and collude in the American stories of blacks from other parts of the world. Authors may include, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Ishmael Beah, Valentino Achak Deng, Edwidge Danticat, Helene Cooper and Barack Obama.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Discussions, Lecture and Reading Exams.
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
