Department of Religious Studies

In this course, we will look at the variety of new religious traditions from the late 19th century through today that we can define as “Black Nationalist” on the basis of concepts of nationhood, Black self-determination, and construction of ethnic identity, mainly in the United States, but also with reference to Black Nationalist movements elsewhere in the diaspora. We begin with the “Black Hebrew” movements of the late 19th century, the religious and philosophical thought of Marcus Garvey in the early 20th century, then move on to consider post-Garvey movements, such as the Moorish Science Temple, Nation of Islam, later Hebrew Israelite movements, Five Percent Nation/Nation of Gods and Earths, the Yoruba Temple and new African movements,  Nuwaubian Nation/Ansaaru Allah Community, and other related traditions. The focus will be on doctrine and practices of these movements, particularly their concepts of self, divinity, knowledge, nationhood, and race/ethnicity.

Credits: CASE A&H

• A&H
• What are CASE requirements?