Religion and the Civil Rights Movement: Race, Faith, and Kinship (RELIGST 266A)

Religion and the Civil Rights Movement is an interdisciplinary course designed for students interested in exploring the religious histories of the Civil Rights Movement and the role of religion in the social and political landscape of the United States during the Twentieth Century. We will examine various religious narratives from communities that both opposed and supported the goals of Civil Rights organizations. Through these histories, students will develop the analytical skills to identify how religion and religious language were used, expressed, and influenced the understanding of race and social order during this time. This class will not only "teach" religious histories but also provide students with basic training in the methodological techniques of racial analysis and African American criticism. Throughout the quarter, we will address two questions: What was religion's role within the Civil Rights Movement? And have these histories shaped our world today? Undergraduates register for 200-level for 5 units. Graduate students register for 300-level for 3-5 units.