In the early 70s Bennington music faculty members Bill Dixon and Milford Graves guided Bennington students through the black esthetic lens with music, words and deeds. Their compositions, teachings, and innovative approaches to creative music boldly addressed a multitude of issues inspired by the Civil Rights Movement. This 7 week course explores social, political and cultural content by artists such as Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix, The Last Poets, Public Enemy, Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper. Students will investigate how the movement instigated an awakening in the artistic community through researching various Bennington archives, documentaries, photos and performances. Students are strongly encouraged to take as many of the three Black Studies courses as possible (Karthik Pandian’s Black Studies: Black Film Division and Black Studies: Black Video Division)