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Black Lives Matter

The #BlackLivesMatter movement is the most significant political movement in African American life in the United States in the last fifty years. BLM leaders denounced anti-black racism, white supremacy, and police brutality and reshaped how we think about gender, sexuality, social justice, economic injustice, and crime. The movement is grounded in a long history of African American activism. From slave revolts to the Black Panther Party, from the founding of the Congressional Black Caucus, to the eruption of the #BLM Movements, this course is an interdisciplinary and historical exploration of the BlackLivesMatter movement.

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Syllabus

The Fundamentals of a Racist Culture

In this module, learners will study the fundamentals of a "Racist Culture." Learners will analyze the history of racism in America, the making of the conservative movement and the diversity of African American communities. Learners must receive a passing grade (80%) on all quizzes. Discussion boards are optional.

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In-depth study of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, its history, politics, people, and organization

Introduces learners to the fundamentals of a "Racist Culture" and its impact on American society

Explores the relationship between race, policing, and justice in the United States

Provides insights into the future of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, examining its potential impact on social and political change

Optional discussion boards encourage student engagement and deeper exploration of the course material

Requires a passing grade on all quizzes, ensuring that learners retain key concepts and information

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive historical exploration of blm

According to students, this Johns Hopkins University course offers a comprehensive and deeply insightful exploration of the Black Lives Matter movement. Learners consistently praise its historical depth and interdisciplinary approach, covering everything from the roots of racist culture to the movement's globalization. Many highlight the engaging nature of the lectures and the high quality of the instructors. While the course provides a strong theoretical foundation, some learners note it is less focused on practical activism strategies. The quizzes are rigorous, requiring an 80% passing grade, which some found challenging but effective for reinforcing learning. Overall, the course is seen as highly relevant and thought-provoking, fostering a deeper understanding of critical social issues.

Highly relevant content directly addressing contemporary social issues.

"This course is incredibly timely and essential for anyone wanting to understand the current social climate."

"The discussions around the George Floyd moment and the globalization of the movement were particularly relevant and insightful for me."

"I felt the course directly addressed urgent societal issues, providing much-needed context and perspective."

Instructors deliver content with passion and expertise, making complex topics accessible.

"The instructor was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, making every lecture compelling and easy to follow."

"I found the teaching style to be very engaging; it kept me hooked and eager to learn more about the subject matter."

"The professors were excellent at explaining nuanced concepts, ensuring a clear and comprehensive learning experience."

Provides a thorough historical grounding of the Black Lives Matter movement.

"I appreciated how the course started from the historical roots of racism in America, giving proper context to the BLM movement."

"The modules on the history of policing and racial relations truly set the stage, connecting past injustices to current events."

"I gained a much deeper understanding of how the movement is grounded in a long history of African American activism, which was crucial."

Optional discussion boards may lead to less interactive learning experiences.

"The discussion boards being optional meant there was less peer interaction than I would have liked, which could be improved."

"I missed having mandatory discussion boards to delve deeper into the sensitive topics with other learners."

"I would have preferred a more structured approach to discussions to facilitate diverse perspectives and engagement."

Course provides deep historical understanding rather than practical activism strategies.

"While highly informative, I hoped for more emphasis on practical strategies for activism or direct community involvement."

"This course excels in its academic and historical analysis but doesn't delve much into 'how to' aspects of social change."

"My expectation was to gain practical tools for activism, but the course is more about understanding the movement's foundations."

Quizzes ensure strong comprehension, though the passing grade is demanding.

"The 80% passing grade for quizzes was tough, but it really pushed me to understand the material thoroughly."

"While challenging, the quizzes were effective in reinforcing the key concepts from each module."

"I found the quizzes quite demanding; however, they ensured I paid close attention to the details of the lectures and readings."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Black Lives Matter with these activities:

Review Historical Context

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Build a strong foundation for understanding the #BlackLivesMatter movement by reviewing key historical events and context.

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Read books or articles about African American history.
Watch documentaries or films about historical events related to race and social justice.
Visit historical sites or museums.
Attend lectures or workshops on African American history.

Review the history of racism in the United States

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Build a strong foundation for understanding the origins and evolution of racism in the United States.

Browse courses on History

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Read historical texts and articles.
Review online resources.
Discuss the topic with classmates or friends.

Online Resources Exploration

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Expand your knowledge of the #BlackLivesMatter movement by exploring online resources such as documentaries, podcasts, and articles.

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Identify a topic or aspect of the #BlackLivesMatter movement that you want to learn more about.
Search for and select reputable online resources such as documentaries, podcasts, or articles.
Consume the selected resources and take notes on the key points.
Summarize your findings and share them with a classmate or mentor.

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Read Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow"

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Discuss the history of racial injustice in the United States and its impact on the Black Lives Matter movement.

View The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age... on Amazon

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Summarize the main arguments of the book.
Identify the ways in which mass incarceration contributes to racial inequality.

Watch documentaries and films about the Black Lives Matter movement

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Gain insights into the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Browse courses on Documentary Filmmaking

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Identify relevant documentaries and films.
Watch and take notes on the documentaries and films.
Discuss the documentaries and films with classmates or friends.

Attend a Black Lives Matter rally or protest

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Experience firsthand the passion and dedication of Black Lives Matter activists.

Browse courses on Civic Engagement

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Research upcoming Black Lives Matter rallies or protests.
Attend and participate in the rally or protest.
Share your experience with classmates or friends.

Create a collection of resources on Black Lives Matter

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Develop research and organizational skills by compiling a comprehensive collection of resources related to Black Lives Matter.

Browse courses on Research Methods

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Identify and gather relevant resources.
Organize the resources into a coherent collection.
Share the collection with classmates or friends.

Study Group

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Enhance your understanding of the course material and connect with your peers by forming a study group.

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Find a group of classmates who are interested in forming a study group.
Set regular meeting times and locations.
Review the course materials together.
Discuss key concepts and ideas.
Help each other understand challenging topics.

Discussion Post

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Deepen your understanding of the course material by actively engaging in discussions with your peers.

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Read the assigned readings and watch the lecture videos.
Formulate your own thoughts and perspectives on the topic.
Write a discussion post that shares your insights.
Respond to at least two classmates' posts.

Practice Quizzing

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Reinforce your understanding of the key concepts covered in each module by completing practice quizzes.

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Review the module materials.
Take the practice quiz.
Review your answers and identify areas for improvement.
Re-study the relevant materials.

Create a social media campaign to raise awareness about Black Lives Matter

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Develop skills in crafting persuasive messages and utilizing social media platforms to advocate for social change.

Browse courses on Social Activism

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Define the target audience for the campaign.
Develop a social media strategy.
Create engaging content.
Monitor and evaluate the campaign's progress.

Annotated Bibliography

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Enhance your research skills and deepen your understanding of the course material by creating an annotated bibliography of relevant sources.

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Identify and gather scholarly articles, books, and other relevant sources related to the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Read and analyze each source.
Write annotations that summarize and evaluate the sources.
Organize the annotations into a cohesive bibliography.

Policy Brief

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Apply your knowledge of the #BlackLivesMatter movement to a real-world context by drafting a policy brief.

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Research a specific policy issue related to the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Develop a policy proposal that addresses the issue.
Write a policy brief that outlines your proposal, its rationale, and potential impact.
Share your policy brief with others for feedback.
Revise and finalize your policy brief.

Contribute to Open Source Projects

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the #BlackLivesMatter movement by participating in open source projects.

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Identify open source projects related to the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Review the project documentation and codebase.
Identify areas where you can contribute.
Make code contributions and/or documentation improvements.
Engage with the project community and seek feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Black Lives Matter will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Activist

Activists work to bring about social or political change. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a comprehensive understanding of the history, strategies, and impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, enabling you to effectively develop and implement strategies for social change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Activist

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research and analyze public policy issues. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a comprehensive examination of the policy implications of the Black Lives Matter movement, enabling you to effectively analyze and advocate for policies that promote racial equity and social justice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Diversity and Inclusion Manager

Diversity and Inclusion Managers develop and implement strategies to promote diversity and inclusion within organizations. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a comprehensive understanding of the history and impact of systemic racism in the United States, enabling you to effectively develop and implement strategies to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Diversity and Inclusion Manager

Political Scientist

Political Scientists study political systems and processes. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides an in-depth examination of the political aspects of the Black Lives Matter movement, including its impact on public policy and electoral politics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Scientist

Anthropologist

Anthropologists study the behavior, origin, and development of humans. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a deep understanding of the cultural and historical factors that have shaped the Black Lives Matter movement, enabling you to conduct research and analysis on the movement and its impact on society.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist

Community Organizer

Community Organizers work with communities to identify and address issues that are important to them. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a deep understanding of the history, strategies, and impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, enabling you to effectively organize and mobilize communities to fight for social justice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers lead and manage nonprofit organizations. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a deep understanding of the mission, strategies, and impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, enabling you to effectively manage and lead nonprofit organizations working to advance racial justice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Social Worker

Social Workers help people cope with personal and social problems. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides insight into the social and economic factors that contribute to racial inequality, enabling you to better understand and address the needs of your clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Journalist

Journalists research, write, and report on current events and issues. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a deep understanding of the history and current state of the Black Lives Matter movement, enabling you to effectively report on related issues.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Urban Planner

Urban Planners design and plan cities and towns. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a deep understanding of the social and economic factors that contribute to racial inequality in urban areas, enabling you to design and plan cities that are more equitable and just.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Educator

Educators teach students at all levels, from preschool to college. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a comprehensive understanding of the history and impact of systemic racism in the United States, equipping you to teach your students about these important issues and inspire them to become active agents for change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educator

Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists manage the public image of organizations and individuals. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a deep understanding of the media landscape and how to effectively communicate about issues related to race and social justice, enabling you to successfully manage the public relations of organizations working in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Historian

A Historian is an expert in the research and documentation of history. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful to you if you are interested in specializing in African American history, as it provides an in-depth exploration of the movement's history and its impact on American society.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Lawyer

Lawyers provide legal advice, represent clients in court, and draft legal documents. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it provides a comprehensive understanding of the legal issues surrounding racial discrimination and police brutality, equipping you to effectively advocate for your clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Data Analyst

Data Analysts gather, interpret, and present data to help businesses make informed decisions. The Black Lives Matter course at John Hopkins University may be useful because it teaches students how to analyze data related to racism and social justice and understand its impact on various aspects of society.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Black Lives Matter.

The New Jim Crow: Young Readers' Edition

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Provides a comprehensive analysis of the history and impact of mass incarceration in the United States, particularly on African American communities. It valuable resource for understanding the origins and consequences of systemic racism in the criminal justice system.

Black Lives Matter

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive historical exploration of blm

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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