• Zurbruegg Aurélie

• Zurbruegg Aurélie

In a time when it has become impossible to speak about the United States of America without mentioning civil unrest, insurrection, extreme polarization, and social injustice, it is more important than ever to ensure that all American voices be heard. This class seeks to give Black Lives their breath back by discussing works of non-fiction which were written by, for, and about African Americans. From the middle passage to the great migration, from slavery to Jim Crow laws, and from emancipation to presidency, this proseminar will be dedicated to the minority whose voice has been silenced for centuries.

With the help of insightful texts by Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Jabari Asim, we will learn about the history of African Americans and will discuss the future of racism in America. We will also engage with questions of racism in literature and other forms of art through group presentations or debates.

Important Note

This class will broach sensitive subject matters. It is thus crucial for the students who sign up to be prepared to encounter troublesome events and harsh language in the works we will study together. It will also be of paramount importance for students to carefully choose their words and arguments throughout – and beyond – the course of the semester. Our classroom needs to remain a space in which participants can safely exchange thoughts and ideas that reflect their respect for each other as well as for the questions that will be discussed. I reserve the right to moderate, and, if I see fit, to dismiss participants who would fail to follow these guidelines.

Grade

You will have the possibility of signing up for two grades: one for the class (3ECTS) and one for the paper (3ECTS). The grade for the class will be a combination of your participation in class (1/3) and your presentation (2/3).

At the end of the semester, you will:

• Have learned about the history of colonialism and the circumstances of African Americans in post-colonial America.
• Be able to appreciate African-American nonfiction in light of your newly-acquired historical knowledge.
• Have been exposed to the adequate vocabulary and attitude to talk about sensitive matters in a kind, coherent manner. 
• Be prepared to keep developing the arguments that have emerged from your group presentation and take part in the large conversation on racism in the U.S. that is going on beyond our classroom.
• (If you are a BALET student and your program requires 6 ECTS), you will be ready to write a Proseminar paper on one of the questions raised during the semester.

Books

• Zora Neale Hurston, Barracoon
• James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son
• Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me
• Jabari Asim, We Can’t Breathe
• Toni Morrison, Playing in the Dark and The Source of Self-Regard (excerpts will be available on Moodle/Teams, no need to purchase them)