ETHS 250B CDX - Themes: American Slave Narratives

4 Credit(s)

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, slaves of African origin composed a series of autobiographies that revised literary genres to finally give voice to experiences shared by millions forced into bondage over several centuries. As first-person stories with great political and historical significance, slave narratives reflect the inherent disjunction between the American ideal of equality and its continued use of brutal forced servitude. The development of the slave narrative as a literary genre provides a unique perspective on American cultural and political history while acknowledging voices long exiled from the American canon. Cross-listed ENG 260A CDX.

Prerequisite(s): ENG 110 or W cornerstone.