Spring 2017
Ethiopian Jews in Ethiopia & Israel:
Jewishness, Blackness, and the Politics of Social Difference
MWF 10:10-11:00
The course is offered by the Center for Judaic Studies (HEJS 3298-001), Africana Studies (AFRA 3898-003), Sociology (SOCI 3998-001), and CLCS 3201-002
In this course we will focus on the modern history of one particular group of Afro-Jews — Ethiopian Jews, and explore more broadly the ways in which social boundaries get constructed. In particular, we will examine moments of contestation over group belonging along religious and racial boundaries—and the border social context and relations such moments embedded in—from the 19th century, through the migration to Israel, and present day performance of Black political subjectivity in contemporary Israel. Looking at these moments, we will discuss the contingent nature of social categories such as Blackness and Jewishness across different cultural, temporal and national contexts.
We will draw on readings from sociology, anthropology, Africana philosophy, political science and history.
For more information, contact: Adane at adane.zawdu@uconn.edu