This course focuses primarily on the African American freedom struggles of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. It traces the movement from the earliest years of the 20th century to the emergence of a leadership cadre in the southern church, to the emergence of a generational split in the 1960s, to the increasing militancy and disillusionment that marked the later stages of the struggle. We will finish with an in-depth discussion of the Black Power movement and the role and legacy of the Black Panther Party. Students will master the strategy and tactics of the movement leadership, as well as the central importance of the grassroots activism initially in the South, and eventually across the country. There will also be an emphasis on the American cultural production and its response to the CRM.