This class combines oral history and archival sources to trace the historical and contemporary intersections of systemic racism and Black placemaking. Black placemaking emphasizes endurance, persistence, agency, belonging, and resistance in the face of institutional limitations, restrictions, and surveillance of Black life.

Using the transgenerational family journey of four generations of Dr. Valandra’s maternal ancestors, the course illustrates the intergenerational transmission of family recovery, restoration, resistance, and resilience within the context of chattel slavery, civil war, reconstruction, and Jim Crow South and North. Some of the salient themes covered in the course include individual and collective identity, freedom seeking, migration, emigration, family bonds, patterns of child rearing and socialization, spirituality, enterprise and land acquisition, and Arkansas’ back to Africa movement. The genealogical process guiding the project and some resources will also be shared with participants.

The instructional methods used in the class include storytelling, small and large group discussion, and individual reflection. Participants will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire about their own ancestry prior to the class and asked to share some responses with the class.