HIST 172 — U.S History of Death, Dying, & Afterlife
This course explores the diverse cultural, religious, and social understandings of death, dying, and the afterlife within the United States. Students will examine how race, ethnicity, gender, and LGBTQ+ identities shape death rituals, mortuary practices, and beliefs about the afterlife. Special attention will be given to marginalized communities, including BIPOC, Latinx, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ+ populations. The course explores syncretic belief systems such as Voodoo and Santería and highlights cultural resilience in these practices. The significance of?Día de los Muertos?and the role of mortuaries, burial customs, autopsies, and socio-political aspects of death are key topics. (CSU/UC)