This class takes a deep dive into Western literature, encouraging students to read critically, think independently, and engage in dialogue and debate. We examine how stories reflect and shape culture and history, and we help students learn to interpret literature through both a literary and cultural lens. This semester students will embark on a powerful exploration of the African continent—its rich history, diverse cultures, and the complex realities faced across its many nations. Through historical context and literary study, we will examine themes of genocide, the human cost of war, poverty, and the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. Our readings this semester—A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculée Ilibagiza, and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba—will give students a deeper understanding of the personal and collective struggles that shape societies, as well as the hope, innovation, and courage that can transform lives.