Black Performance as Social Protest
Black performance and social activism have been a model for protest globally. It has enriched and activated cries for justice in multiple contexts. This course will help you expand your understanding of Black performance as social protest and its active effects on performance and protest today. The arts are a potent way of responding to issues of injustice. From slavery and lynching to incarceration and disenfranchisement, Black performance has resisted oppression across several historical frames.
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- Level Foundation
- المدة 24 ساعات hours
- الطبع بواسطة University of Michigan
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Offered by
عن
Black performance and social activism have been a model for protest globally. It has enriched and activated cries for justice in multiple contexts. This course will help you expand your understanding of Black performance as social protest and its active effects on performance and protest today. The arts are a potent way of responding to issues of injustice. From slavery and lynching to incarceration and disenfranchisement, Black performance has resisted oppression across several historical frames. On this course, you'll read, watch, and listen to performances that illustrate various forms of artistic protest from the African Diaspora. You'll cover chants of the enslaved and dances of heritage, before moving on to look at early 20th century migrations and United States protests. You'll identify ways in which patterns of resistance from the past contribute to ongoing social justice movements, such as Black Lives Matter. After investigating the history of Black performance as social protest, you'll produce a reflective manifesto for achieving racial equity through performance.الوحدات
Welcome to the Course!
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1
Videos
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4
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Introduce Yourself!
1
Videos
- Welcome
4
Readings
- Syllabus
- Content Warning
- Assignment Overview: Mixtape and Manifesto
- Help us learn more about you!
Introduction to the Week
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3
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Guiding Image Discussion: The Whip
3
Readings
- Learning Objectives for Week 1
- Guiding Image: The Whip
- Definitions: Protest and Blackness
Histories of Plantation Performance
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1
Videos
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8
Readings
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4
Discussion
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1
ExternalTool
1
External Tool
- Workbook: Protest-Personal and Political
4
Discussions
- Discussion: Throw Me Anywhere Lord and the Circle
- Discussion: Gullah People Fighting to Preserve Their Land
- Discussion: Prison Songs
- Discussion: Gandy Dancers
1
Videos
- Instructor Performance: Ring Shout
8
Readings
- Throw Me Anywhere Lord and the Circle
- Ring Shout
- Gullah Traditions of the South Carolina Coast
- Gullah People Fighting to Preserve Their Land
- Working Songs: Lightnin’ Long John
- Prison Songs
- Gandy Dancers
- Brief Introduction to the Gamut Workbook Tool
Introduction to the Week
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1
Videos
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2
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Guiding Image Discussion: The Noose
1
Videos
- Introduction to Early 20th Century Migrations and United States Protests
2
Readings
- Learning Objectives for Week 2
- Guiding Image: The Noose
The Great Migration and the Hope of Freedom
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2
Videos
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2
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Discussion: Great Migration
2
Videos
- Instructor Performance: A Reading of "Rachel" by Angelina Weld Grimke
- Instructor Performance: A Reading of "On Being Young—A Woman—And Colored." by Marita Bonner
2
Readings
- The Great Migration
- August Wilson and the Great Migration to Pittsburgh
The Noose Tightens
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5
Readings
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4
Discussion
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3
ExternalTool
3
External Tool
- Workbook: Considering Context
- Workbook: Protest, Survival, and Sustainability
- Patterns of Protest
4
Discussions
- Discussion: The Lynching Drama
- Discussion: Lynching Sites Interactive Map
- Discussion: Lynching Dramas in Living Rooms
- Discussion: Strange Fruit
5
Readings
- Definitions: Lynching and Degeneration
- The Lynching Drama
- Lynching Sites Interactive Map
- Koritha Mitchell: Lynching Dramas in Living Rooms
- Pearl Primus and Billie Holiday: Strange Fruit
Introduction to the Week
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1
Videos
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3
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Guiding Image Discussion: The Fist
1
Videos
- Introduction to Civil Rights Struggles for Justice
3
Readings
- Learning Objectives for Week 3
- Guiding Image: The Fist
- Definitions: Black Nationalism, Civil Rights, Pan Africanism, and Black Arts Movement
Civil Rights Through Song, Joy, and Conflict
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1
Videos
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5
Readings
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6
Discussion
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1
ExternalTool
1
External Tool
- Workbook: Hollywood Strategies
6
Discussions
- Discussion: A Short Film from Freedom Riders
- Discussion: Hollywood Roundtable
- Discussion: Bob Marley Protest Songs
- Discussion: African Nationalism and Pan-Africanism
- Discussion: Mama Africa
- Discuss: Civil Rights Movement, Pan-Africanism, and Black Nationalism
1
Videos
- Instructor Performance: Improv Civil Rights and African Protest Songs
5
Readings
- The Music: A Short Film from Freedom Riders
- Hollywood Roundtable
- Bob Marley Protest Songs
- African Nationalism and Pan-Africanism
- Mama Africa
Introduction to the Week
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1
Videos
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3
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Guiding Image Discussion: The Baton
1
Videos
- Introduction to Social Justice Now
3
Readings
- Learning Objectives for Week 4
- Guiding Image: The Baton
- Definitions: Black Lives Matter and Gentrification
Art as Protest: Reclaiming Public Space
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3
Readings
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3
Discussion
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1
ExternalTool
1
External Tool
- Workbook: Multi-Media Impact
3
Discussions
- Discussion: #DontMuteDC
- Discussion: Langston and Beethoven | Black and Proud
- Discussion: 125th and Freedom
3
Readings
- #DontMuteDC
- "Langston and Beethoven | Black and Proud" By Terrance McKnight
- "125th and Freedom" by Ebony Noelle Golden
Art Reacting to Protest: Reclaiming Personal Space
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4
Readings
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3
Discussion
3
Discussions
- Discussion: You're (*not) #Woke
- Discussion: Dear Karen
- Discussion: The Central Park Five
4
Readings
- Definition: Woke
- "You're (*not) #Woke" by Autumn Reed
- "Dear Karen" by DECORA
- "The Central Park Five" By Anthony Davis
Create a Mixtape
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1
Readings
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1
ExternalTool
1
External Tool
- Post Your Mixtape to the Gamut Gallery
1
Readings
- Create a Mixtape Instructions
Introduction to the Week
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1
Videos
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3
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Guiding Image Discussion: The Circle
1
Videos
- Introduction to the Call to Action
3
Readings
- Learning Objectives for Week 5
- Guiding Image: The Circle
- Definition: Manifesto
Manifesto Exploration
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4
Readings
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4
Discussion
4
Discussions
- Discussion: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
- Discussion: We See You White American Theater
- Discussion: Black Opera Alliance
- Discussion: Black Revolutionary Theater
4
Readings
- "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott Heron
- We See You White American Theater
- Black Opera Alliance
- Black Revolutionary Theater
Manifesto Creation
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1
Videos
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4
Readings
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1
Discussion
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2
ExternalTool
2
External Tool
- Workbook: Draft of Manifesto
- Gallery: Post your Final Manifesto to the Gamut Gallery
1
Discussions
- Discussion: What is a Manifesto?
1
Videos
- Instructor Performance: Manifestos
4
Readings
- What is a Manifesto?
- Manifesto Instructions
- Thank you for joining this course!
- Post-course survey
Auto Summary
Discover the transformative power of Black performance as a form of social protest in this foundational Arts & Humanities course. Guided by expert instructor, explore historical and contemporary artistic resistance from the African Diaspora, examining how it has shaped and energized global justice movements. Engage with impactful chants, dances, and protests, and create a reflective manifesto for racial equity. With 1440 minutes of rich content, choose from Starter, Professional, or Paid subscription options to suit your learning needs. Ideal for those passionate about social activism and performance arts.
Scott Piper
Louise Toppin