The Black West: Race, Culture, and the Making of a Region

What insights can art, literature, film, and music provide about Black life in the western United States? This dynamic six-week course invites you to explore the rich history of people of African descent in the American West, from Spanish colonization to the late twentieth century. We will examine key topics such as the complexities of slavery in western territories, the emergence of free Black communities before and after the Civil War, the Great Migration, civil rights movements, urban uprisings, and the implications of the carceral state. The course also emphasizes the interactions between Black Westerners and a diverse array of communities, including Indigenous groups, Spanish-speaking neighbors, Asian Americans, and white settlers. Each session encourages critical analysis of various cultural artifacts—visual art, literature, sound recordings, films, and oral histories—that illuminate this vital yet often overlooked narrative in American history. Join us in uncovering the multifaceted stories of Black life in the West.