ASRC 6606: The Politics of the Hip-Hop Generation

This graduate seminar investigates the political dynamics of the hip-hop generation. The primary focus of this course will be the major political and economic forces that have shaped the worldview of Black and Latino/a youth born between 1965 and 1984. Students will critically address major topics surrounding hip-hop including race-ethnicity, gender and sexuality, social class, segregation/mass-incarceration, politics, and education. After reviewing the socio-historical development of hip-hop, we will examine the role of hip-hop in modern black politics and activism, including its significance for mobilizing youth. Special attention will be given to the generational gap between the hip-hop generations and the Civil-Rights/Black Power parents.