AAS385: African Americans in the Media

Content: Students in this course will study representations of African Americans in major forms of mass media, including newspapers, literature, radio, television and film. We will review the historical development of those images and trace their progression to the present. We also will study the impact of negative portrayals of African Americans on the self-images of blacks and assess the effect of those representations on whites and the society at large. Moreover, the class will examine ways that black image-makers have portrayed African Americans through Hip Hop and film, and we will attempt to predict trends and solutions for the future.