This course examines the ideas of major figures in the progressive tradition of African political thought. This emancipatory tradition emerged in societies shaped by racial, cultural, and economic exploitation, forcing both African men and women to address questions of identity and political action. Most members of this tradition also considered the ways in which uneven power relations within African communities shaped the personal and political landscapes. The men and women we will study in this course drew on resources as varied as pan-Africanism, classical liberalism, social democracy, Marxism, Black Consciousness/Negritude, critical theory and gender theory, yet each participated at least implicitly, in a common African intellectual project: the meaning of Africa and of being African. Some of the figures we will examine include Edward Blyden, Aime Cesaire, Leopold Senghor, Frantz Fanon, Amilcar Cabral, Steve Biko, Kwame Nkrumah, Nyerere, Ngugi wa Thiongo. Evaluation will be based on class participation, class presentations, two short papers, and a final research paper. Enrollment limited. Group C