Kursinformation

This seminar is an introduction to the field of Black European Studies, with a particular interest in Black identity and activism in Germany and the UK (1980s-today). 2020 has shown global protests against the mistreatment of Black people not only in the US but also in other Western countries like Germany or the UK. In this seminar we will look at the history of Black activism in Germany and the UK as well as current movements and introduce concepts of Black political activism and Black cultural identity. We will look at the idea of a political Blackness and how it is often intertwined with anti-racist activism or centered around questions of identity. Therefore, we will engage with discourses and voices from within Black communities and discuss perspectives of Black scholars and activist groups. This introduction to Black Studies and Black Activism in Europe also brings us to questions of postcolonial and decolonial thinking, which we will discuss towards the end of the seminar.

Students are asked to participate in the weekly sessions by reading the suggested literature, participating in the discussions, as well as prepare a presentation and write an essay (10-15 pages) as graded assignments. Students are encouraged to examine current activism and debates particularly in the digital arena and benefit from this overview to develop their own research questions.