AFAM 311 | African Roots: A Journey to Ghana

This is a study abroad course with a 4-week intensive journey to Ghana, West Africa. Combining academic preparations with incountry cultural site visits and excursions, alongside structured interning opportunities, students immerse themselves into Ghanaian society. Ghana is often cited as the gateway to Africa because of its history and contemporary influences on African American expressions of African cultures. In their collective journey through Ghana, students spend time at an internship site several days a week to connect with local communities and engage in societal structures. Students discuss their experiences with peers and course instructors to process what it means to be in Ghana in relation to their own identities including, race, sex, gender, and nationality. Students visit the Slave Castles which are historical locations related to the transatlantic slave trade and the roots of U.S. chattel slavery. They engage in self-reflection and content connection while navigating Ghana's post-colonial landscape. In the spring semester, students meet every other week to engage with a selection of readings and assignments to gain insight and awareness of Ghanaian history, culture, and contemporary issues. This course provides students with a new perspective into the African American experience by visiting a part of its origin story.