This course is a survey of African-American Literature from the slave narratives to the present, using the theme of musical influences. African-American literature has always been closely tied to musical traditions, from slave narratives and the spirituals, to the Harlem Renaissance and jazz, to hip-hop and contemporary African-American literature. This class integrates literature, history and music to provide a lively exploration of African-American literature and culture. Prerequisites: ENG 101 and ENG 102 or ENG 103 with a grade of C or better