The Black Radical Tradition

This course introduces key figures and philosophical foundations of the Black Radical Tradition, emphasizing its global scope and diverse intellectual roots. Thinkers include Biko, Cabral, Césaire, Jones, Du Bois, Fanon, Gilmore, Wynter, and others. We examine how these theorists fracture Euro-modern hegemonies and craft radical epistemologies in pursuit of liberation. Students will interrogate the meaning of “radicalism,” explore its praxis, and trace the contours of a Black radical tradition across time and space. Central questions include: What is a radical? What do radicals seek to transform? And how might Black radicalism reimagine freedom, subjectivity, and political agency?