I acknowledged in my post that the name was probably to catch attention (be provocative) but when I read the summary I was far more interested in the class than when I read the name. I imagine a course titled that towards any group would cause eyebrows to raise, however it would take going to the class and seeing what was being talked about to determine its actual purpose. If it was a class where they address aspects of Black identity and experience in a critical manner then it sounds great, if I go in there and it's like a rally of sorts then I'd keep it moving.Bones,
I'm a bit older than you I'm thinking, so when I was in college I did take a course in the sociology department that was labeled as "multicultural studies" this particular multicultural course focused on the assimilation of African-American culture into the American fabric such that we all become one unified culture. Not that we don't embrace our independent cultural backgrounds but rather understand and enjoy the differences we bring to each other. Additionally, we were mandated to take a course labeled "contemporary moral problems". This didn't focus on anything but becoming a morally just rather than bankrupt country. These classes were not at a faith based college but rather the land grant college of the University of Delaware.
Now that I've answered your question and will acknowledge that perhaps the name of the course is set to be provocative, can you imagine the cry that a course Labeled "The Problem of Blackness" would cause. These types of provocative behaviors is what I believe continues to keep our country divided, and certainly has no place in a college circulum. It's time for us all to have pride in who we are and accept and embrace "who" all others are as well. This is the only way to prevent both sides of the extreme racial argument from gathering any more momentum.
The multicultural class you mentioned also sounds interesting. Reason, I dont think there is actual American culture outside of consumerism and football. Everything else I would say is either regional or goes back to a country of origin. So I can see myself arguing in that class that there is no culture to assimilate from nor into for AA's as we generally don't know our country of origin. But interesting none the less.
Imagine me in my women's studies class as 1 of 3 males. One was gay (thus our relationship to women had different dynamics) and the other was quiet as a church mouse, so guess who was the general male represntative.... It got interesting at times to say the least. But it was fun and I met a lot of Tri Deltas and Zetas...