U.S. Anti-Black Racism Course

UNIV 1985; UNIV 3985
Special Topics: U.S. Anti-Black Racism
1-Credit Course
Free to all UConn students, faculty and staff
This 1-credit course introduces students to foundational history and concepts related to systemic and anti-Black racism. It also exposes students to foundational concepts related to Black consciousness, Black resistance, Black resilience, and intersectional solidarity. While anti-Black racism and Black identities are global phenomena, this course focuses particularly on the U.S. context. In addition, the course will introduce students to resources at UConn to continue their study and development in understanding and potentially disrupting anti-Black racism for the collective good. The course consists of nine (9) modules. Each week-long module contains multiple units developed by individual faculty contributors.
Course dates:
- Spring 2021: Tuesday, Jan. 19 - Sunday, March 21
Course Objectives
By the completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Use existing research to describe the foundational history and concepts related to systemic anti-Black racism in the United States.
- Explain foundational scholarship focused on Black-Led movements and concepts such as Black civil rights, Black resistance, Black resilience, and intersectional solidarity.
- Question the consequences of anti-Black racism in areas such as Black health and wellness; Black agency and resilience; and/or anti-Blackness in higher education.
- Locate valuable resources throughout the University of Connecticut that work to disrupt anti-Black racism for the collective good.
- Select critically engaged science, social science, and humanities courses offered by UConn that focus on anti-Blackness and appeal to your interests and plans of study.
Course Modules
Module 1 - Welcome and Overview
Professors: Dr. Shardé Davis, Dr. David G. Embrick, & Dr. Milagros Castillo-Montoya
Module 2 - Legacies of Chattel Slavery
Professors: Dr. Dexter Gabriel, Jamelia Morgan
Module 3 - Systemic Racism and Anti-Black Racism
Professors: Dr. Noel Cazenave, Dr. David G. Embrick
Module 4 - Black-Led and Intersectional Social Movements
Professors: Dr. Jeffrey Ogbar, Dr. Evelyn Simien
Module 5 - Black Health and Wellness
Professors: Dr. Michelle Williams, Dr. Loneke Blackman-Carr, Dr. Wizdom Powell
Module 6 - Black Agency and Resilience
Professors: Dr. Shardé M. Davis , Dr. Fumilayo Showers
Module 7 - Anti-Blackness on the College Campus
Professors: Dr. Saran Stewart, Dr. Milagros Castillo-Montoya, and Dr. Diandra J. Prescod
Module 8 - Contemporary Intersectional Solidarity
Professors: Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims and Dr. Melina Pappademos
Module 9 - Course Wrap-Up
Professors: Dr. Shardé Davis, Dr. David G. Embrick, & Dr. Milagros Castillo-Montoya
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Course Information
Review Frequently Asked Questions regarding the course
View Advisory Board of Provost's Committee on Anti-Black Racism
Watch a short video on Racial Justice at UConn
Watch a short video on the course introduction for the Anti-Black Racism course at UConn
Meet the course Faculty
UConn Today: Anti-Black Racism Course Offered For Second-Straight Semester (1/27/2021)
UConn Today: Brave Space podcast, featuring Shardé Davis and Mason Holland (1/18/2021)
UConn Today: New Course Introduces Students to US Anti-Black Racism (9/4/2020)
Diversity and Inclusion at UConn
Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)
African American Cultural Center
Asian American Cultural Center
Puerto Rican Latin American Cultural Center
Native American Cultural Programs
UConn Update on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives (July 2020)
More Questions?
Contact us at abr@uconn.edu.
Faculty

Dr. Shardé Davis
Department of Communication
Module 1, 6, 9

Dr. David Embrick
Department of Sociology
Module 1, 3, 9

Dr. Milagros Castillo-Montoya
Department of Education
Module 1, 7, 9

Dr. Dexter Gabriel
Department of History
Module 2

Jamelia Morgan
Department of Law
Module 2

Dr. Noel Cazenave
Department of Sociology
Module 3

Dr. Jeffrey Ogbar
Department of HIstory
Module 4

Dr. Evelyn Simien
Department of Political Science
Module 4

Dr. Fumilayo Showers
Department of Sociology
Module 5

Dr. Michelle Williams
Department of Psychological Sciences
Module 6

Dr. Saran Stewart
Department of Education
Module 7

Dr. Diandra J. Prescod
Department of Education
Module 7

Dr. Violet Jiménez Sims
Department of Education
Module 8

Dr. Melina Pappademos
Department of History
Module 8

Dr. Stephany Santos
Student Engagement Faculty

Truth Hunter
Course Moderator
Advisory Board

Peter Diplock
Associate Vice Provost,
Center for Excellence in
Teaching and Learning

Dr. Melina Pappademos
Associate Professor,
Department of History

Willena Kimpson Price
Director,
African American Cultural Center

Frank Tuitt
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
University of Connecticut