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Professor Goffe (she / her)

tg401@hunter.cuny.edu

Saturdays: 12:10PM-3:00PM EDT

Office Hours: Zoom, Fridays 2pm - 4pm, or (By Appointment in Central Park)

WGS Department Office Information: Hunter College West 17th Floor (68th and Lexington - 695 Park Avenue)

Contact Dept Admin: Lisa Steadwell

PRONOUNS:

Refer to the instructor as Professor Goffe or Prof. Goffe and by pronouns (she / her). Students are welcome and encouraged to share the name they prefer to be used and their pronouns on the first day of class.

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1. Name

2. Pronouns

3. Hometown

4. Text you are interested in on the syllabus

5. Something fun you did over the summer

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In this hybrid fieldwork lab class, students will be introduced to methods in Black and ethnic studies with a focus on climate change.  Starting with New York City and Hunter College’s location within it, we will explore the overlapping dispossession of Native sovereignty and African enslavement in the land and architecture. Themes include environmentalism, race, and strategies for climate repair. Troubling the urban-rural binary, our discussions will be framed by the dark blueprints of race and space—place and decolonization—and the larger questions of racial capitalism, settler colonialism, and in the wake of the ecological violence of the plantation across the Americas. Towards a framework for global indigeneity, we will examine the spatial politics of settlement with special attention to the fluidity of port cities environments, representations, and ecologies. There will be a number of field trips for experiential learning in New York City. Students will design multimedia digital humanities final projects for a virtual showcase to be developed using Hunter College library resources.

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”In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational parity and accommodations for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. It is recommended that all students with documented disabilities (Emotional, Medical, Physical, and/or Learning) consult the Office of AccessABILITY, located in Room E1214B, to secure necessary academic accommodations. For further information and assistance, please call: (212) 772- 4857 or (212) 650-3230.”

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Hunter College Policy on Sexual Misconduct

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Hunter College Policy on Sexual Misconduct

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“In compliance with the CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct, Hunter College reaffirms the prohibition of any sexual misconduct, which includes sexual violence, sexual harassment, and gender-based harassment retaliation against students, employees, or visitors, as well as certain intimate relationships. Students who have experienced any form of sexual violence on or off campus (including CUNY-sponsored trips and events) are entitled to the rights outlined in the Bill of Rights for Hunter College. a. Sexual Violence: Students are strongly encouraged to immediately report the incident by calling 911, contacting NYPD Special Victims Division Hotline (646-610-7272) or their local police precinct, or contacting the College's Public Safety Office (212-772-4444). b. All Other Forms of Sexual Misconduct: Students are also encouraged to contact the College's Title IX Campus Coordinator, Dean John Rose (jtrose@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-650-3262) or Colleen Barry (colleen.barry@hunter.cuny.edu or 212-772-4534) and seek complimentary services through the Counseling and Wellness Services Office, Hunter East 1123. CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct Link: http://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/la/Policy-on-SexualMisconduct-12-1-14-with-links.pdf

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Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation (grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change with advance notice.

Please see this Padlet and Brightspace announcements for changes. Email instructor with any questions.

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Hunter College Policy on Academic Integrity

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Hunter College Policy on Academic Integrity

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“Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.”

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Late work

Late work will be accepted, so students should not email the instructor to ask if they can submit work late. However, work submitted late without a documented excuse will automatically be assessed a 5% penalty and will be penalized 10% per class day late. Work submitted after three class days will not be penalized more than 30%, but 70% represents the highest amount of credit students can earn after three weeks.

The College suggests that students schedule or otherwise dedicate 5-9 class hours per week reading and studying for this course. The instructor expects students to complete all the assigned readings before they begin working on assignments. In addition to the readings listed on the course calendar, students are responsible for reading all supplemental materials, including the syllabus, the writing guide, and all prompts found on Brightspace.

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By the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:

Understand the historical, cultural, and political contexts of Black and Indigenous literature

Analyze the themes and methods used and developed by Black and Indigenous writers and scientists

Critically evaluate the ways in which Black and Indigenous literature represents issues of identity, race, gender, and class

Communicate their ideas effectively in writing and in class discussions

Develop their critical thinking and analytical skills through close reading and interpretation of literary texts

Write cultural criticism

Develop a multimedia and digital humanities portfolio

Attain proficiency in ecological studies and scientific analysis

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Students who participate in this class with their camera on or use a profile image are agreeing to have their video or image recorded solely for the purpose of creating a record for students enrolled in the class to refer to, including those enrolled students who are unable to attend live.If you are unwilling to consent to have your profile or video image recorded, be sure to keep your camera off and do not use a profile image. Likewise, students who un-‐mute during class and participate orally are agreeing to have their voices recorded.If you are not willing to consent to have your voice recorded during class, you will need to keep your mute button activated and communicate exclusively using the "chat" feature, which allows students to type questions and comments live.

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Pechakucha Presentation  15%

Active Spoken Participation 20%

Homework and Quizzes 15%

Lab Notebook 10 %

Midterm 20%

Final Prototype Showcase 20%

GRADING SYSTEM

A+ = 97.5 – 100%

A   = 92.5 – 97.4%

A-  = 90.0 – 92.4%

B   = 82.5 – 87.4%

B+ = 87.5 – 89.9%

B-  = 80.0 – 82.4%

C+ = 77.5 – 79.9%

C   = 70.0 – 77.4%

F   = 0 – 69.9%

Extra Credit will be granted (to participation) for attending a session at the Writing Center on your midterm paper. Forward confirmation of visit to instructor.

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Video-Conferencing - Butter Link for Hybrid Classes

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Video-Conferencing - Butter Link for Hybrid Classes

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https://join.butter.us/profgoffe/black-and-indigenous-ecologies-and-technologies

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Introduce Yourself

Sign-Up to Heylo

Whale + Dolphin Watching Cruise - Pier 11 [In-Person]

Lunch

Museum of the American Indian

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Week 2: The Dark Laboratory: BIPOC Crossroads

September 13 - Introduction to Dark Lab @ Hunter - West Building [In-Person]

Toni Morrison, Playing in the Dark, 1993 (pg 1-39)

Other Islands of New York - NYC Ferry assignment - to be explained in class

Amiri Baraka, “Technology & Ethos,” 1965

Nylah Iqbal Muhammad, People of Color Experience Climate Grief More Deeply than White People, Vice News, May 14, 2020.

Chapter One, Dark Laboratory, 2025 (recommended)

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Week 3: “Virgin Land,” Native Infrastructures, and Gaming

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Week 3: “Virgin Land,” Native Infrastructures, and Gaming

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Week 3: “Virgin Land,” Native Infrastructures, and Gaming

September 20 - Film Screening (Exterminate All the Brutes) - [Hybrid]

Dienke Hondius, Dutch New York Histories: Connecting African, Native American and Slavery Heritage , 2017

Eve Tuck and Wayne Yang, “Decolonization is not a Metaphor," 2012

Indian Map of Brooklyn

Grace Dillon, “Imagining Indigenous Futurism,” Walking the Clouds

Skawanetti

Beth LaPensée on Games with Social Impact

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Week 4: Race and AI: Algorithms and Environmental Racism

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Week 4: Race and AI: Algorithms and Environmental Racism

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Week 4: Race and AI: Algorithms and Environmental Racism

September 27 - Fieldwork - If We Don’t, Who Will? -Stephanie Dinkins - Brooklyn Public Library [In-Person]

Ruha Benjamin, Race After Technology, 2019

Clyde Woods, Development Arrested, 1998

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Week 5: Grasslands, Swamps, Golf Courses, and Afro-Indigenous Burial

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Week 5: Grasslands, Swamps, Golf Courses, and Afro-Indigenous Burial

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Week 5: Grasslands, Swamps, Golf Courses, and Afro-Indigenous Burial

October 4 - Film Screening (Conscience Point, 2019) [Hybrid]

Alex Callender, american lawn, night grass, 2024 (paintings)

Discussion: African Burial Grounds in NYC - National Park Service, CUNY architecture - African Burial Grounds, Cahokia, Shinnecock Hills Golf Course, Alligator Alcatraz, Mar-a-lago

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Week 6: Black Traditions of Ornithology and Birdwatching

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Week 6: Black Traditions of Ornithology and Birdwatching

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Week 6: Black Traditions of Ornithology and Birdwatching

October 11 - Fieldwork - Central Park - Dr. Leo Douglas (New York University)  [In-Person]

Simone Browne, Dark Matters, 2015

Roxanne Scott, “Black Birders Flock to the Rockaways,” New York Amsterdam News, June 6, 2024

“Kerry James Marshall’s Black Birds Take Flight in a New Series,” New York Times, July 30, 2020.

Ebony Patterson, “things come to thrive…in shedding…in the motling…,” New York Botanical Garden, 2023

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Week 7: Choreographies of Survival and Art in Abya Yala - Turtle Island - Pagganuck

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Week 7: Choreographies of Survival and Art in Abya Yala - Turtle Island - Pagganuck

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Week 7: Choreographies of Survival and Art in Abya Yala - Turtle Island - Pagganuck

October 18 - Fieldwork - Governor’s Island - Ecuadorian Ecologies and Artmaking - Studio Visit with Artist Cecile Chong (Hunter College Alumna)  [In-Person]

Emily Raboteau, Lessons for Survival: Mothering Against “the Apocalypse,” 2024

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Week 8: Black Geographies of Maroonage and Homegoing

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Week 8: Black Geographies of Maroonage and Homegoing

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Week 8: Black Geographies of Maroonage and Homegoing

October 25- Film Screening (Exterminate All the Brutes) [Hybrid]

Nalo Hopkinson, "Midnight Robber,” ed. Grace Dillon, Walking the Clouds

Discussion: Queen Nanny of the Maroons

Studio Visit: Dr. Nathaniel Telémaque (Kings College London)

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Week 9: Color as Method

November 1 - Community Engagement Day - Boys Club of New York - Bronx [In-Person]

Imani Perry, Black in Blues, 2025

In groups of three, choose a color to tell the story of a Black / Indigenous ecology.

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Week 10: Fractals, Self-Organization, and Cartographies of Hair

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Week 10: Fractals, Self-Organization, and Cartographies of Hair

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Week 10: Fractals, Self-Organization, and Cartographies of Hair

November 8 - Film Screening (Exterminate the Brutes) [Hybrid]

Emma Dabiri, Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair, 2020

Guest Lecture by the Author

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Week 11: “Poetry is Not a Luxury”: Oceania, the Caribbean, Deserts, & Mountains

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Week 11: “Poetry is Not a Luxury”: Oceania, the Caribbean, Deserts, & Mountains

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Week 11: “Poetry is Not a Luxury”: Oceania, the Caribbean, Deserts, & Mountains

November 15 - Guggenheim Museum - Rashid Johnson [In-Person]

A Poem for Deep Thinkers

Desiree Bailey, What Noise Against the Cane, 2021

Julian Aguon, No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies, 2022

bell hooks, Appalachian Elegy: Poetry and Place, 2012

Saretta Morgan, Alt-Nature, 2023

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Week 12

November 22 – Art and Technology Skill Share [Dark Lab - 16th Floor - Hunter West]  [Hybrid]

LinkedIn Learning

adrienne maree brown, Emergent Strategy, 2017

Saya Woolfalk, Field Notes from the Empathetic Universe, Newark Museum, 2020. (virtual tour).

Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum, I Have withheld much more than I have written, 2022.

Andrea Chung, We Was Girls Together, 2021.

Wifredo Lam, When I Don’t Sleep, I Dream, Museum of Modern Art, 2025.

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Week 14: SPECULATIVE DESIGN FINAL SHOWCASE

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Week 14: SPECULATIVE DESIGN FINAL SHOWCASE

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Week 14

December 6 - SPECULATIVE DESIGN FINAL SHOWCASE  [In-Person]

[Dark Lab - 16th Floor - Hunter West]

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Week 15: SPECULATIVE DESIGN FINAL SHOWCASE

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Week 15: SPECULATIVE DESIGN FINAL SHOWCASE

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Week 14

December 6 - SPECULATIVE DESIGN FINAL SHOWCASE  [In-Person]

[Dark Lab - 16th Floor - Hunter West]

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https://hunter.cuny.edu/people/tao-leigh-goffe/

1. Professor Goffe

2. she / her

3. London + NY (Queens / Manhattan)

4. Playing in the Dark

5. Wrote a book on climate crisis in the Caribbean and Afro-Asian ecologies.

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Counseling and Wellness Services
Dr. Perry D. Hoffman Counseling Welcome Center
Room 1119B, East Building
695 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10065
Phone: 212-772-4931
Fax: 212-772-4932
personalcounseling@hunter.cuny.edu

For assistance after 5 pm, or in an emergency, please call Public Safety at 212-772-4444.

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Presentation 10%

SIGN-UP - SEPTEMBER 13

a)     Joint presentations: 20 Slides x 20 Seconds

b)     These presentations are known for telling stories through images rather than text and are typically brief. They use the 20x20 rule, where each presentation consists of 20 slides, and each slide is displayed for only 20 seconds, automatically progressing to the next one. This results in a total presentation time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

c)     Explanation of Pechakucha : https://24slides.com/presentbetter/what-is-a-pecha-kucha-presentation

d)     Sign up by EOD September 13.

e) Select Tab at the Bottom of the Spreadsheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BF-KF0vI95GvPheuRPQGNcHWstVoQ_x2YTc8cY0nNHg/edit?usp=sharing

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Weekly Responses 10%

a)     each week you will be required to ask a question and answer a question posted on our course padlet. Using Kyla Wazana Tompkins’ guide “How to Ask a Good Question about Theory,” select a passage from the assigned reading, type it out, and formulate a question about the writer’s intent. Come to class prepared to answer a classmate’s question in discussion.

https://avidly.org//wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Some-Notes-On-How-To-Ask-A-Good-Question-About-Theory-That-Will-Provoke-Conversation-And-Further-Discussion-From-Your-Colleagues-2-2.pdf

b)     In class be ready to read your answer to a classmate's question on padlet.

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A Few Words about Generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT)

Writing is integral to thinking. It is also hard. Use of AI tools are NOT permitted in this course.

Use of AI, including AI-generated images in presentations is not permitted.

Appropriate use of writing tools when writing essays or discussion board entries:

You are free to use spell check, grammar check, and synonym identification tools. You are encouraged to use MS Word Spell Check.

You are not permitted to use Grammarly.

Inappropriate use of AI when writing essays or discussion board entries:

You may not use entire sentences or paragraphs suggested by an app.

You may not have an app write a draft (either rough or final) of an assignment for you.

Evidence of inappropriate AI use will be grounds for submission of an Academic Integrity report. Sanctions will range from a zero for the assignment to an F for the course.

I’m assuming we won’t have a problem in this regard but want to make sure that the expectations are clear so that we can spend the semester learning things together—and not worrying about the origins of your work.

Be aware that other classes may have different policies and that some may permit it.

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Buy the books. Check the library. Audiobooks are books.

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CUNY Hunter College Online Bookstore - the official textbook provider for CUNY Hunter College students. Shop our marketplace for the lowest prices on new, used, eBook and rental. Students save an average of 60% off on the TextbookX marketplace.

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Click here for Padlet to complete Homework and Class Activities.

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Click here for Padlet to complete Homework and Class Activities.

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Each week your homework - questions will be due in this part of the padlet. Thursdays by 10pm.

Students are required to answer on a classmate's post before class begins on Saturday.

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Late work

Late work will be accepted, so students should not email the instructor to ask if they can submit work late. However, work submitted late without a documented excuse will automatically be assessed a 5% penalty and will be penalized 10% per class day late. Work submitted after three class days will not be penalized more than 30%, but 70% represents the highest amount of credit students can earn after three weeks.

The College suggests that students schedule or otherwise dedicate 5-9 class hours per week reading and studying for this course. The instructor expects students to complete all the assigned readings before they begin working on assignments. In addition to the readings listed on the course calendar, students are responsible for reading all supplemental materials, including the syllabus, the writing guide, and all prompts found on Brightspace.