Ateneo - UPO

Black and Interracial Militant Histories in U.S. Literature and Culture (1830–1980)

The course examines the history of African American militancy in the United States from the 1830s to the 1990s through an interdisciplinary approach combining literary studies, political history and cultural studies.
Rather than treating Black radicalism as an isolated phenomenon, the course explores recurring moments in which African American writers, intellectuals and political movements built alliances with abolitionists, labour movements, socialists, feminists and civil rights activists, investigating both the possibilities and the limitations of interracial and cross-constituency coalitions.
The course is designed as a research seminar. The course instructor provides the theoretical and methodological framework for each unit and coordinates a series of guest lectures delivered by national and international specialists on key moments in U.S. political and cultural history. Literary, autobiographical, theoretical and historical texts are examined alongside recent scholarship in the field.
The course concludes by examining the work of C.L.R. James and Angela Davis as theorists of the structural relationship between Black liberation, feminism and class struggle.

To be purchased and read in full:

Nella Larsen, Quicksand (Sabbie mobili), bilingual edition (Italian-English) edited by M. Giulia Fabi. Bologna: DeriveApprodi, 2026.
James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time. Knopf Doubleday, 1992. (Available online.)
Alice Walker, Meridian: A Classic Novel of Civil Rights Activism and Feminism in the 1960s American South. Harvest / Harcourt, 2003. ISBN: 9780156028349 (or any available edition).

In addition, excerpts or chapters will be assigned from:

Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (excerpts). Any edition. The text is available online.
Sojourner Truth, "Ain't I a Woman?" (Available on DIR.)
Ida B. Wells, Southern Horrors and A Red Record (excerpts). (Available on DIR.)
Lorenzo Costaguta, Workers of All Colors Unite! Race and the Origins of American Socialism. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2024. (Chapter 4.)
Malcolm X (selected readings from The Autobiography of Malcolm X, with Alex Haley; and Malcolm X: Collected Speeches, Debates, and Interviews, edited by Sandeep S. Atwal).
Combahee River Collective, "The Combahee River Collective Statement" (Available on DIR.)
Audre Lorde, "The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House" (Available on DIR.)
Angela Davis, Women, Race, & Class. Penguin, 2025 (excerpts).
C.L.R. James, American Civilization: A Political Manifesto for the United States and the World (La civiltà americana: Un manifesto politico per gli Stati Uniti e il mondo). Milan: Meltemi, 2026 (excerpts).

For individual research projects, students will be guided in the use of academic bibliographies and scholarly databases.(available on DIR)

The course contributes to the learning objectives of the Master's Degree by fostering advanced interdisciplinary skills in the analysis of literary and cultural texts and in the study of the relationships between cultural production, political history and critical theory.
Designed as a research seminar, the course introduces students to advanced humanities research through engagement with specialist scholarship and guest lectures delivered by internationally recognised scholars.

By the end of the course students will be able to:
1.critically analyse literary, autobiographical and theoretical texts within their historical and political contexts;
2. discuss the role of interracial coalitions in U.S. cultural and political history;
3. integrate primary sources with specialised critical scholarship;
4. formulate an independent research question using interdisciplinary methodologies;
5. present and discuss complex scholarly arguments in written and spoken English.

Students are expected to have English language proficiency at CEFR level C1 or higher.
The course assumes prior knowledge of U.S. literature and history normally acquired during undergraduate studies, together with familiarity with literary analysis and basic academic research methods.

The course is taught in a seminar format and combines introductory lectures by the course instructor, guest lectures delivered by Italian and international scholars, guided discussions of primary texts, and activities aimed at the progressive development of individual research projects.

The course instructor ensures the methodological continuity of the course by integrating the different specialist contributions within a coherent theoretical framework and by promoting interdisciplinary dialogue among literary, historical, and cultural perspectives.

Students actively participate in seminar discussions, develop critical analyses of the assigned texts, and strengthen their research skills through individual and collaborative activities. Teaching materials and the bibliography will be made available through the DIR platform.

The course syllabus does not vary for non-attending students, who will be required to take a written in-class examination consisting of open-ended questions on the assigned texts, as well as an oral examination. Students missing more than three classes will be considered non-attending students.

Regular attendance and participation in seminar activities are strongly recommended, as the course is based on a progressive learning process involving text discussion, engagement with different critical perspectives, and the development of independent research skills.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request specific services and support tools dedicated to them by contacting the Student Careers Development and Coordination Staff and Student Services Office and by consulting the dedicated page on the University website. Once they have contacted the University Staff, they may get in touch with the course instructor regarding the arrangements for examination procedures and teaching-related matters.

Assessment is differentiated for attending and non-attending students, consistently with the learning outcomes and educational objectives of the course.

For attending students, assessment is based on a research-oriented seminar process consisting of three components:

Research Notebook / Annotated Research Portfolio (30%): a progressive collection of critical annotations on primary and secondary texts, seminar discussions, and guest lectures, aimed at developing an individual research question;
Final Research Paper (50%): an individual research paper in English (approximately 2,000 words) based on the research question developed during the course, close reading of primary texts, and the use of the critical bibliography discussed in the course;
Oral discussion of the research project (20%): an oral examination aimed at assessing students’ ability to justify their interpretations, establish connections among texts and historical-cultural contexts, and use specialised disciplinary terminology.

For non-attending students, assessment consists of a written examination (50%) and an oral examination (50%) based on the primary texts and critical materials listed in the syllabus. The examinations assess students’ knowledge of the course contents, their ability to critically analyse literary, autobiographical, and theoretical texts, and their capacity to establish connections among literary, historical, and cultural issues.

To pass the examination, students must demonstrate adequate knowledge of the main texts and themes of the course, the ability to apply critical tools to the analysis of the materials studied, and an appropriate use of specialised terminology in English. Higher grades require increasing levels of independent interpretation, effective use of critical bibliography, and the ability to develop coherent arguments supported by textual evidence.

Assessment is based on students’ knowledge of the texts and themes addressed in the course, their ability to apply critical tools to the analysis of the materials studied, their independent judgement, argumentative skills, and appropriate use of specialised terminology in English.

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Week 1 — Freedom, Testimony, and the Politics of Emancipation
The first week introduces the theoretical and historical framework of the course through the abolitionist movement and the question of building political alliances between African American activists and white reformers.
Guest lecturer: Marco Sioli (University of Milan)

Week 2 — Reconstruction: Citizenship, Racial Violence, and the Limits of Emancipation
Guest lecturer: Marco Petrelli (University of Pisa)

Week 3 — Race, Labor, and Political Radicalism: The Progressive Era and the Popular Front
This week examines the relationship between African American movements, labor organizations, and socialist radicalism during and after Reconstruction.
Guest lecturer: Lorenzo Costaguta (University of Bologna)

Week 4 — Modernism, Gender, and Racial Identity
Guest lecturer: Maria Giulia Fabi (University of Ferrara)

Week 5 — Civil Rights, Black Nationalism, and the Critique of Integration
The week focuses on Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin, examining different visions of racial justice, citizenship, and political transformation.

Week 6 — Black Feminism: Difference, Coalition, and the Politics of Intersectionality
Guest lecturer: Krystyna Mazur (University of Warsaw)

Week 7 — Women, Race, and Class: Feminist Theory and Narratives of Militancy
Guest lecturer: Sabine Broeck (University of Bremen)

Week 8 — C.L.R. James and the Structural Connection between Race, Gender, and Class
Guest lecturer: Matteo Battistini (University of Bologna)

Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will know the major moments in the cultural and political history of interracial relations in the United States from the nineteenth to the twentieth century, with particular attention to coalitions among African American movements, progressive organizations, feminist movements, and radical political groups. They will understand the relationship between literature, critical theory, political activism, and the construction of alliances shaped by race, gender, and class.

Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to analyze literary, autobiographical, political, and theoretical texts in English through critical approaches from literary and cultural studies. They will interpret texts within their historical contexts and examine tensions between interracial solidarity, social differences, and political conflicts.

Making judgements
Students will develop the ability to critically assess the possibilities and limits of interracial coalitions in US political culture, comparing different perspectives on race, gender, class, and emancipatory practices.

Communication skills
Students will be able to develop and present structured critical arguments, both orally and in writing, using specialized terminology from literary, cultural, and interdisciplinary studies in English.

Learning skills
Students will acquire methodological tools for independent research on literary texts, historical sources, and critical scholarship related to North American literature, US political culture, and interracial