This course is entitled "Early Black Internationalism." It explores black literary and cross-cultural exchanges that emerge between the late 19th and early 20th century in America. We will explore those global exchanges as they range from Paris and the French Caribbean to Cuba, Trinidad, Jamaica, Africa and the United States. Though race, racism and colonialism are at the core of many of these writers’ concerns, what will matter equally to us is the development of a black critical perspective that attempts to see far more than race, racism and colonialism. These writers will help set the stage for a contemporary “black" world that is constituted by a wide range of different cultural, historical and political experiences. In addition to books, essays and articles, we will be watching a number of rare/classic films and also studying vintage sound recordings.