This course will explore the history of black Americans as they strove to secure their dignity as human beings, and rights as American citizens, in the face of racial prejudice. It will examine the diverse viewpoints of leading black intellectuals and activists on human equality, slavery, self-government, the rule of law, emancipation, colonization, and citizenship. Contemporary issues to be considered may include affirmative action, black reparations, racial profiling, and the "achievement gap" in education.
Instructors: Lucas E. Morel is Associate Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University. He is the author of Lincoln's Sacred Effort and has published widely on Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and slavery. Peter C. Myers is Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He is the author of Frederick Douglass: Race and the Rebirth of American Liberalism.