SCWK8844 · Social Work

History of Activism in Black Communities

School of Social Work

Black communities in continental Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States have had a significant influence on the development of the world throughout history. Historically, Black people have been providing mutual aid long before their efforts would later be defined as "social work" and have often done so as a response to a profession that did not help them and to a profession that did not know how to help them. This course will explore the cultures, histories, advocacies, and activism that frame a universal context and the many diverse experiences of people of African descent. The goal of this course is for students to understand how policy (de facto or de jure) influenced the engagement of advocacy and activism of Black people. This historical and global context will frame their activism and see connections with how it evolved in our current climate.