Course Title: Engaging America Through Essay (Part 2)
Instructor: Ernest Quarles, Esq.
Brought to you by Odyssey
October 20, 2025 - November 24, 2025 (6 Sessions)
Monday, 6:30PM ET - 8:30PM ET
Virtual via Zoom
Course Description: Our current system of governance is deeply rooted in patriarchal traditions, often failing to reflect the voices and experiences of women and those who challenge dominant narratives. Opportunities for critical thinking and writing are increasingly limited, particularly as many of the authors who provoke deeper reflection—several of whom we’ll engage with in this course—are banned in certain states. Yet we find inspiration in figures like Anna Julia Cooper, a visionary essayist, former slave, and intellectual trailblazer. Living to the age of 105, she debated some of the most prominent thinkers of her time and, in 1892, authored essays that laid the groundwork for feminist thought. Until recently, she was the only woman quoted in the U.S. passport—a quiet but powerful testament to her legacy.
The essays we’ll read this term are both critical and visionary. They challenge us to see differently, to think more expansively, and to understand the structures shaping our lives and democracy. Through themes such as the American Dream—especially its exclusions and limitations—interest convergence, and personal ambition, we will seek to uncover deeper truths about ourselves and the society we inhabit. These writings offer not only critique but also hope, illuminating pathways toward a more inclusive and humane future.
NOTE: This course has two parts. Learn more and register here for Part 1.
*Top Rated Instructor*
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