English Course Examines Legacy of Civil Rights Activism
As concerns over human rights and inequality monopolize the forefront of current political and social dialogue, it is important for educators to expose their students to texts that “crystalize issues of social justice and reflect on race, religion and love-driven politics,” according to Associate English Professor Dr. Kathy Glass.
In her undergraduate MLK, Malcolm X and James Baldwin class, Glass highlights the speeches and writings of some of the 20th century’s most prolific African-American activist-authors, sparking discussion and dialogue among students regarding social struggles that are still relevant today.
Students read and analyze the autobiographies of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and tackle James Baldwin’s plays and essays.
“The autobiographies, plays and essays we read highlight blacks’ legacy of civil rights activism and their creative response to racial injustice,” explained Glass. “These activists faced unique and urgent concerns in the 1960s, yet we still have much to learn from these men who committed their lives to values of freedom and justice.”
As a scholar of African American literature, Glass’ work focuses on race, gender, citizenship and visibility. Her latest book titled Politics and Affect in Black Women’s Fiction reads black women’s texts as richly creative documents saturated with sociopolitical value, particularly how African American women fiction writers have mined the politics of affect and emotion to document love and environments shaped by race.