course

The need for students to learn about racism in American society existed long before I began teaching a course called “White Racism” at Florida Gulf Coast University earlier this year. I chose to title my course “White Racism” because I thought it was scholarly and succinct, precise and powerful. But others saw it differently. Many White Americans (and some people of color) became upset when they learned about this course. Thousands took to social media and far-right news sites and racist blogs to attack the course and me personally. Some 150 of these individuals sent me hateful and threatening messages. It might be tempting to blame the hostility to my course on the current political climate, in which the president of the United States routinely makes overtly racist statements and rece...

Nina Simone said, “An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.” By using vivid imagery and strong lyricism, music artist and pop icon Beyoncé is doing just that. So much so that a college professor created a course that examines her work. It’s not exactly about learning the dance moves to “Single Ladies,” though in my mind that should get you some extra credit. Beyoncé has been getting increasingly more political. In 2010, Rutgers University professor Kevin Allred created “Politicizing Beyoncé,” a course that focuses on the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality and centers Black feminist authors and creatives. Recently Rutgers fired him following a dispute over his political commentary following the 2016 presidential election. Since then, Allred has taught t...

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Why I Teach a Course Called “White Racism”

“Politicizing Beyoncé”: The Unique College Course on Feminist Politics