If you’re a history lover like me, following the old “American tale” is a timeline that grew tired once you learned about Wooden George and Honest Abe for the 10th, 20th or 50th time.
Luckily for UW students, African American Studies 231 and Professor Clark-Pujara offer a unique perspective on numerous important (and largely ignored) experiences that make up a huge part of our nation’s real story.
This three-credit, 100-person course follows three distinct periods: the slave trade (1619-1865), emancipation & reconstruction (1861-1877) and “long” civil rights movement (1877-1968). While you may think you’ve heard these stories before – you haven’t. Professor Clark-Pujara fills lectures with dozens of “new” tales about heroic African Americans who stood up to various hardships across the decades. She provides students with a lens for critically examining their own relationships with our country, and she encourages them to think about the how and why behind many of the challenges this group still face today. The course even fulfills ethnic studies requirements – something many forget they need until graduation arrives.
Those who are self-motivated, appreciate learning about history and enjoy some writing will love this course. The course takes up 6-8 hours per week, both exams are very straightforward, and written essays allow you to further explore topics that stand out. Be careful though – challenging discussions surrounding themes like slavery and violence are heavily featured. Studying these topics isn’t easy, but the knowledge you gain is definitely worth it.
If you’re looking to fulfill history credits, explore new perspectives, and be truly inspired by a passionate professor – join an open seat in African American Studies 231 for Fall 2020 today!