In The Tradition: A Year of Great Black Books - Session 3

Black Americans have a unique identity that is movingly illustrated and celebrated in literature. In this course, we will take a year to read, examine, and discuss some of the seminal books written by Black authors that deal with the inescapability of history, the intersection of race and gender, and the difficulty of cultural assimilation. By spending time with these important and accomplished books, we will learn a great deal about the august Black literary tradition and how literature has functioned as a tool for revelation, connection, and progress for the Black community and American society at large.

Session Three: The Difficulty of Cultural Assimilation  

September 10 & October 8: The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
November 12: The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead
December 10: Erasure by Percival Everett

This class takes place online through Zoom.

About Reader Series: Reader series classes take you on a deep dive into specific topic or author to gain a more advanced understanding of literature and the world. Experienced instructors will provide history, context, and analysis, and guide in-depth discussion that will help make you an instant expert in a single subject or author’s body of work.

Each participant can decide how they choose to engage with the classes. You can read the books ahead of time, read them as the class progresses, or read them after the class has concluded. No matter your level of prior knowledge, you will receive a wealth of materials and insights in a condensed period, like a master class or a great course, only right here in Cleveland.

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