Teaching and Learning Philosophical “Special” Topics: Black Feminism and Intersectionality: Black feminism and intersectionality

This chapter considers Black women’s pedagogies, including my approach to teaching a philosophy graduate seminar on “Black Feminism and Intersectionality,” along with lessons and insights gleaned from the course readings. We archive our experience, arguing that this course was distinctly transformative because we could, in Michele Russell’s words, “evoke and evaluate our collective memory of what is done to us, and what we do in turn.” This experience was shaped by the unique class dynamics created by demographics (our races, genders, sexual orientations, nationalities, etc. mattered for us) coupled with my pedagogical practices—the structure (student-led discussion), content (readings), and the intentional cultivation of an affirming community. Each co-author writes from her/his unique standpoint while remaining attentive to these guiding threads and themes interwoven throughout.