Black Studies and Global Justice - MA

This module will explore contemporary Black political thought, covering the key theories, concepts, and ideas that are at the heart of Black Studies. Blackness, rooted in Africa and the African Diaspora, underpins the work of Black Studies. However, there have been various ways that Blackness has been understood and mobilized historically and in the present. This module will explore the various different political ideologies and movements that have articulated Blackness. Rather than seeing Blackness as a single, fixed concept, we will explore the dynamic and often contradictory approaches to the idea. Importantly, we will apply these ideas to the present day, asking you to identify your perspectives on how best to mobilize Blackness today.

We will apply these discussions directly to movements and campaigns to achieve global justice. Black Studies theory is only as good as its practice, so you will be encouraged to think practically through the conceptual discussions and arguments. The module will be taught in a workshop format, with students drawing on their experiences to discuss the content and apply it to the present day.

In addition to theoretical exploration, the module will provide a critical examination of the socio-political contexts that have shaped Black political thought. Students will engage with a variety of texts, including seminal works by influential Black thinkers, as well as contemporary writings that address current issues facing Black communities globally. This comprehensive approach ensures that students gain a deep understanding of the historical and ongoing struggles for justice and equality. Furthermore, the module will incorporate guest lectures and workshops led by activists and scholars who are at the forefront of Black political movements. These sessions will offer students the opportunity to learn from and interact with individuals who are actively engaged in the fight for social justice. By bridging academic study with real-world activism, the module aims to inspire students to apply their knowledge and skills in meaningful ways, contributing to the broader movement for global justice.

This module explores identity politics through the lens of Intersectionality theory and the ways it produces privilege and inequality. It examines how individuals and groups who are marginalized and oppressed navigate through structural, political, representational, and experiential forms of intersectionality. African diasporas in the UK, Europe, Caribbean, USA, and South America will be explored as part of the course to examine ways in which forms of marginalization and power function under different governmental structures, cultural, and environmental contexts.

A key aspect of intersectionality lies in its recognition that multiple oppressions are not each suffered separately but rather as a synthesized experience. Students will be expected to critically assess their own, others', and marginalized groups' lived experiences of inequality through undertaking a critical case study approach. Students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of how multiple axes of social dimensions of intersectionality, including age, race and racialization, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, sexualization, social class, disability, and ability, may be articulated and discussed in complex ways.

This module provides an historical overview of key themes in the political, economic, and socio-cultural experiences of people in Africa and the wider diaspora. The main purpose of the module is for you to engage in detailed studies to acquire knowledge of the root causes and some of the continued and lasting consequences of historical events, systems, and institutions, especially within the context of global injustices and their impacts on Black people. Following a brief survey of pre-colonial and colonial African history, the central thread running through most of the module is the extent to which African peoples have encountered and engaged with the various forms of global injustice.

Accordingly, much of our focus is to critically analyze the variety of responses adopted by Black people in their organized campaigns or resistance against systems, institutions, and ideologies. Emphasis is placed on the use of primary documents, as well as other primary sources, to assess specific 18th and 19th-century cases of Black struggles against injustice in Britain such as the Mansfield Case, the Anti-slavery Society, and slave narratives of resistance such as Equiano, Cugoano, and Prince. In America, the anti-slavery narratives of Douglass, Jacobs, and the creative works of the Harlem Renaissance of the early 20th century are examples of similar responses and engagements. In the Caribbean, the focus is on Marronage and slave rebellions such as the Bussa Rebellion and Sam Sharpe, the Haitian Revolution, and the nationalist campaigns in the 1930s and 1940s. The main method of assessment for this module is an essay in which you demonstrate critical awareness and application of the value of African diaspora history in contributing to discussions of global injustice.

This module focuses on the practical application of Black Studies theories and concepts through community action, research, and engagement. Students will develop skills in designing and implementing projects that address racial and social justice issues within Black communities. A key feature of this module is the exploration of Black Studies and Global Justice research methods, equipping students with the tools needed for effective community-based research. The module emphasizes stakeholder involvement and the impact of community-based initiatives.

In this module, students will explore the philosophy behind this approach and learn how to conduct research that is directly connected to the struggles for justice off campus. This involves engaging with community organizations and stakeholders, ensuring that research is impactful and relevant to real-world issues. The module prepares students for the Global Black Studies Project by equipping them with innovative research methods and fostering strong community links.

This module will explore the principles and key theoretical contributions of Black Psychology and concepts important in understanding global health issues. Black psychological approaches have often been overlooked in the UK context, so we will introduce you to frameworks and a range of concepts and debates in the field. We will also introduce relevant issues in global health, aiming to provide students with a broad understanding of the area. This module will be team-taught, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives and expertise. We will delve into the foundational principles of Black Psychology, examining how it differs from mainstream psychological approaches. This includes understanding the historical context and development of Black Psychology, its key contributors, and its relevance in contemporary settings. Students will explore the concepts of identity formation within Black communities and the psychological impact of racial trauma. This includes discussions on how racial trauma affects mental health and well-being, and the strategies for coping and resilience.

The module will cover mental health issues specific to Black communities, including the prevalence of mental health disorders, barriers to accessing mental health services, and culturally appropriate interventions. We will examine how lived environment impacts both physical and mental health, discussing issues such as housing, pollution, and access to green spaces. The module will highlight the intersection of environmental health and structural racism. Students will learn about maternal health disparities and the factors contributing to higher rates of infant mortality in Black communities. This includes exploring systemic issues and potential solutions to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. The module will provide an overview of global life expectancy trends and public health challenges, focusing on how these issues disproportionately affect Black communities worldwide. We will discuss the role of public health initiatives in addressing these disparities.

We will explore the political dimensions of health, including how policies and governance impact health outcomes in Black communities. This includes discussions on health equity, advocacy, and the role of community organizations in shaping health policy.

The Global Black Studies Project serves as the capstone module for the MA Black Studies and Global Justice programme. Designed to bridge the gap between academic study and real-world activism, this module provides students with an opportunity to develop and implement a project focused on racial and social justice. Whether through community engagement initiatives, global cultural exchanges, or work placements, students will apply theoretical knowledge to tangible issues affecting Black communities worldwide. The project aligns with the course’s commitment to interdisciplinary, practical, and impact-driven learning, ensuring students gain professional, research, and advocacy skills that enhance their employability and ability to enact meaningful change.

To support students in successfully completing their projects, the module will adopt a flexible, student-centered learning approach, replacing traditional taught sessions with asynchronous bite-sized content, portfolio-building workshops, and drop-in support sessions. The asynchronous materials will be released weekly, covering key topics such as project design, stakeholder collaboration, ethical research considerations, and impact evaluation. These short, focused sessions will allow students to engage with core concepts at their own pace while dedicating more time to their independent projects. Additionally, portfolio-building workshops will provide structured opportunities for students to refine their work, receive formative feedback, and integrate theory into practice. The drop-in support sessions will offer a space for individualized guidance, enabling students to troubleshoot challenges, refine methodologies, and ensure their projects meet academic and professional standards.

By the end of this module, students will have produced a comprehensive written portfolio that critically documents their project from inception to completion. This portfolio will include a detailed project proposal, research-informed analysis, stakeholder engagement strategies, and a reflective evaluation of outcomes. Through this process, students will not only develop research, project management, and critical thinking skills but also cultivate a professional identity as scholars and practitioners in Black Studies and global justice. This final project will serve as a tangible demonstration of your expertise, equipping them with the confidence and experience to contribute to social justice movements, policy development, academia, and community leadership roles.

This module explores the intersection of Black Studies and Social Justice Pedagogy, emphasizing the historical and contemporary struggles against systemic racism and oppression. Through a critical examination of educational practices, students will engage with foundational texts, theories, and methodologies that inform Black Studies and social justice movements at which education has stood central to their establishment and impact. Key themes include the role of education in promoting equity, the importance of culturally relevant teaching, and the impact of activism on pedagogical approaches. By the end of the module, participants will develop a comprehensive understanding of how to implement socially just pedagogical practices that honour and uplift Black voices and experiences. They will also create action plans for integrating these principles into their own educational settings, advocating for systemic change and fostering inclusive learning environments.

The assessment for this module is designed to evaluate students’ comprehension and application of the concepts, theories, and practices explored throughout the semester. Students will be required to complete a comprehensive essay that serves as both a reflective and analytical piece, allowing them to demonstrate their understanding of the interplay between Black Studies and social justice pedagogy. In their essays, students will be tasked with selecting a specific social justice issue relevant to the educational landscape, such as systemic racism, educational inequity, or cultural representation in the curriculum. They will critically analyse the historical context of this issue, drawing connections to the foundational principles of Black Studies. The essay should explore various pedagogical approaches that can be employed to address the selected issue, incorporating relevant theories and frameworks discussed in the module.

This module will outline the established theories and concepts of Green Criminology, as well as surveying recent innovations such as the study of state-corporate harm and post-colonial criminology. The module is a response to the gap in the curriculum on green criminology and environmental security. It will allow you to apply multidisciplinary frameworks, including security studies, politics, development studies, human rights, and law. It will highlight the several criminal justice and human security challenges that stem from environmental degradation, including an increase in protest, organized crime, species extinction, ecocide, global health, conflict, and climate refugees from the Global South.

The module will use a combination of lectures and readings, including social scientific analysis, international NGO briefs, international legal analyses, and natural scientific projections from The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The lectures will be workshop-based and encourage you to take a global look at the effects of climate change in the Global South and the Global North. There will be an active attempt to focus on literature from indigenous peoples and authors from the Global South due to their disproportionate suffering from the effects of climate change. Lectures will be boosted by guest speakers, who will provide you with reflections and sector expectations.

The module will address future challenges for human security: economic, political, food, health, community, personal, and environmental. It will present critical analyses of proposed solutions such as The Green New Deal, Green technology, and possible securitization, as well as the rise of eco-fascism amongst far-right extremist groups. By recognizing the multi-faceted character of climate change and its heterogeneous effects on societies, it will present numerous possibilities for employability in the advocacy, charity, and security sectors. The module will help you become professionally work-ready by making you aware of global economic trends and UN sustainability goals (Pillar 3 Globally and Culturally Aware), helping you navigate your career or future study options through knowing and articulating skills required for your future success (Pillar 2 Informed).

This module will provide you with a thorough grounding in key concepts and issues in international refugee law. It will also provide you with the opportunity to explore what it means to be displaced or on the move in a border-restricted world by engaging with critical legal studies perspectives. Beginning with an overview of the UN and regional human rights systems’ approaches to refugee and migrant law, this course will then explore thematic issues such as the gendered nature of the refugee and migrant experience; the negative human rights impact of border regimes such as US Immigration and Custom Enforcement; and refugee and migrant activism and resistance.

There are two assessments. The first consists of a collaborative reflective exercise, which will provide students with the opportunity to make connections with themes in the module and to practice their writing skills. The second assessment is an essay on a relevant topic of your choosing; mid-way through the semester we will have an essay workshop during which we will discuss research and academic writing skills, as well as any essay-specific queries you may have.