DESCRIPTING AFRICAN AMERICAN BODIES

This course explores representations of the impact of structural racism on health and health outcomes. In this endeavor, this course examines historical issues and theories, emphasizes critical analysis and the application of knowledge, and asks critical questions about authors’ decisions to depict illness and health in specific ways. Scholarly readings in the areas of narrative and critical race theory will not only illuminate the relationship between social conditions and health outcomes but also provide the necessary insights and concepts to articulate how authors and directors represent health risks and outcomes in cultural contexts. Written and visual texts will provide a context for reflecting on specific personal and cultural experiences with structural racism and the narrative strategies that authors employ to depict the effects of structural racism on African American bodies.