Isaac
Curtis
History from below. To turn the world upside-down.
"You are all together, in the same boat, sailing on the same uncertain sea… "
TEACHING
GET FREE OR DIE TRYING
is a readings-based, writing-intensive course that explores the history and culture of the “maroon societies” of the Americas. It focuses on how enslaved people emancipated themselves from slavery, beginning with the first runaways who fled to join Indigenous communities, expanding to cover those who later established autonomous communities, including hundreds of thousands of maroons who continue to live throughout the Americas today, and how their struggle has been conceived by Africana theorists Neil Roberts, Russell Maroon Shoatz, and Eugene Genovese. It provides a balance among language areas, including interdisciplinary readings that cover Jamaica, Suriname, Haiti, Cuba, Florida, and Brazil. Topics include the early formation of maroon communities, relations between Indigenous and Black communities, the relationship between marronage and slave revolution, and the thoughts of maroons about themselves and the world around them. Weekly discussions of the readings prepare students to write five papers of five pages each. The papers develop essential historical thinking skills on questions of agency vs. structure and change over time, but also critically evaluate the arguments of Roberts, Shoatz, and Genovese, bringing students into dialogue with traditional and grassroots Africana philosophers and historians on the meaning of this history for our time.
THIS WEBSITE
is part of my effort to connect with a community of intellectuals and activists committed to recovering the forgotten histories of common people like our selves. It includes information ABOUT ME, including a brief BIO, an up-to-date CV, and CONTACT information. It also includes more information about my RESEARCH and TEACHING interests. To keep up with my recent & forthcoming publications and presentations, I encourage you to FOLLOW ME to receive updates about my work.