ENGL 309(F) Anger, Voice and Violence in Black Women's Stories (Same as Africana Studies 309 and Women's and Gender Studies 309)*
Though women have long been stereotyped as overly emotional (and thus irrational and inferior), real or just anger has traditionally been seen as the domain of men. Angry women were not just unfeminine, but probably crazy as well. How, then, to understand the stereotype and ubiquitous images of black women as angry, vocal and assertive? We will begin this course by briefly examining some of these images and the various, often contradictory, ways anger has been gendered, racialized and classed. Our primary focus, however, will be texts (novels, essays, poetry, autobiography, music and film) authored by black women, which tend, unsurprisingly, to offer more nuanced views of black women's anger. Why and at whom have black women been angry? How is that anger expressed, suppressed, marginalized or denied? Under what circumstances, if any, might it be acknowledged and validated? What are the uses of anger? Is silence ever a more appropriate or effective response than speech (whether angry or not) to the wrongs and oppressions that produce anger? Is violence? Authors will include Gwendolyn Brooks, Harriet Jacobs, Gayl Jones, Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, Ann Petry, Nina Simone and Ida B. Wells-Barnett.
Format: seminar/discussion. Requirements: active participation in class discussion, one class presentation and three essays, two short and one longer.
Prerequisites: a 100-level English course, except 150, if registering under the ENGL prefix; otherwise, permission of the instructor. Enrollment limit: 20 (expected: 20).
(Post-1900)
Hour: MATTHEWS