New course focuses on Black, African and African diaspora studies

A new interdisciplinary course will introduce undergraduate students to the ideas and research of scholars within the African and Caribbean Faculty Association at McMaster (ACFAM), providing perspectives on historical and contemporary issues that connect Black and African communities around the world.

Kojo Damptey, a community activist, decolonial scholar and the current Interim Executive Director for the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion will teach INSPIRE 3EL3-CO3: Topics in Black, African and African Diaspora Studies, which will begin in the fall term.

“I am excited to create and teach this exciting course and expose students to important ideas, concepts, experiences, and realities that are deeply needed in the undergraduate curriculum,” he says.

This course is another step in empowering and broadening the presence of Black, African and African Diaspora Studies at McMaster.

In 2012, Damptey was part of a group of students, staff and faculty that began the work to establish the Interdisciplinary Minor in African and African Diaspora Studies (AADS) that includes courses from more than 15 departments across campus.

“This course is a very important development. It brings us closer to our goal of expanding research and learning opportunities in Black/African and African Diaspora studies at McMaster,” says Alpha Abebe, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Humanities and the newly appointed faculty lead for African and African Diaspora Studies.

INSPIRE 3EL3-CO3 will be offered by Intersession Learning, a new initiative that is looking at providing unique interdisciplinary and experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students.

“We are very excited to facilitate the offering of this course and collaborate with colleagues such as Kojo and Alpha in supporting AADS here at McMaster,” says John Maclachlan, Director of Intersession.  “Intersession Learning is always looking to collaborate with partners across campus to offer exciting interdisciplinary learning opportunities.”

INSPIRE 3EL3-CO3 is open to students in all faculties at all levels.

For more information about this course, go to the Intersession website.