SOCI 833: Special Topics in Sociology

SOCI 833-001: Reading Du Bois' Black Reconst
(Spring 2022)

04:30 PM to 07:10 PM M

East Building 134

Section Information for Spring 2022

The Reading Du Bois’s Black Reconstruction Graduate Seminar provides a unique opportunity to delve deeply into, and read closely, chapter by chapter, a major, and classic sociological work- Du Bois’s magnum opus. Du Bois marshalled the speeches and documents to support what was then a revolutionary thesis: that Blacks were indeed the primary agents in the post-Civil War era in fostering and building the ideas, ideals, and institutions central in the making of American social democracy. Even more revolutionary was the thesis that Blacks themselves were at the forefront as active agents in assisting in the northern victory over the south by using what Du Bois called “the strike,” and other acts which supported the north, and thereby advancing their own liberation. The book is unique in proposing a new thesis: that the counterpart to northern factory capitalism was southern plantation capitalism with the rise of the proletariat in each sector. Just as important is Du Bois’s re-definition of slaves as workers and their role in shaping, not only the American economy, but also the global economy. In doing so, they played a crucial role in forging, and advancing, global capitalism.  Throughout the book Du Bois juxtaposes race and class warfare and how and why the former won among the white working classes, north and south. The victory of race over class precipitated the end of the early institutional victories won by Blacks and their allies. Throughout the book Du Bois grapples with the race/class dichotomy and critiques how each moves, singularly and jointly, in and out of all social issues in the American arena. They operate to define and explain the American Dilemma, a dilemma and dichotomy which exist and persist today.

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Specialized inquiry of topics of contemporary sociological research and scholarship. Content varies. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Recommended Prerequisite: Have completed either 6 credits of coursework at the 600 level or permission of instructor.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment is limited to Graduate level students.

Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.