Africana Womanism is an Undergraduate (4420) & Graduate (7000 Level) Course designed to broaden one's scope from a family-centered perspective relative to issues, recurring themes, trends in modern Africana women fiction, highlighting its applicability to our everyday lives worldwide. A study of the lives & selected works by 4 leading Africana women writers—Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God); Toni Morrison (Beloved); Terry McMillan (Disappearing Acts); and Sister Souljah (No Disrespect)--will be enhanced by careful readings of 2 theory books—Africana Womanism: Reclaiming Ourselves, 5th Edition & Africana Womanist Literary Theory--as well as readings of scholarly selections by & about the various authors. We will highlight the prioritization of Race, Class, Gender, a major cornerstone of this paradigm, committed to empowerment & equality of all.

For Part I, students will be introduced to an authentic Africana theoretical concept, Africana Womanism, and for Part II, they will be applying it to the 4 Africana womanist novels. Together, all materials will enhance students’ understanding of critical current issues relevant to Africana women & their families/communities.

The ultimate objective of the course, then, is to enhance one's knowledge and appreciation of Africana-Melanated women and their interconnection with their families (men & children) in particular and Africana life & culture (historically and currently) in general. Its purpose is to introduce students to a relatable theoretical construct, as a possible antidote to some of the other female-based theories, such as feminisms. An authentic Africana paradigm designed specifically for all women of African descent, and by extension, for all men and women in general, the paradigm demonstrates that we are all IN IT TOGETHER!