1 SYLLABUS Southern Illinois University at Carbondale AFRICANA STUDIES AFR 215 Sections 003 CRN 23010 THE BLACK AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY SPRING 2015 Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Place: AG 0153 Instructor: Dr. Leonard Gadzekpo Office: Faner 4022 Tel: 453 7152 Office Hours: 11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. / 1:45-2:00P.M. / 3:30-4:30 P.M. Tuesday and Thursday (Also by appointment) COURSE DESCRIPTION The course is designed to make students aware of the institutional and global effects of racism; to educate students on the complex issues of race, class, gender, and nationalism, and to investigate issues concerning the multiple of African Americans in America. OBJECTIVE 1. Effectively analyze the African American experience in relationship to its historical, cultural, social, economic, and political dynamics. 2. Identify, analyze, discuss and critique theories regarding race and ethnic relations in America. 3. Compare and contrast the experiences of African Americans with Native Americans and other immigrant populations. 4. Develop strategies students can use with their families, co-workers, peers, etc. to create better race relations in their immediate environments and the nation as a whole. REQUIRED TEXTS Gadzekpo, Leonard. ed. The African American Experience in a Pluralistic Society. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2010. REQUIREMENTS AND GRADES Methodologies: Class lectures, discussions, film, video, individual and group reports, guest speakers, special projects, and organized field experiences Requirements: Students MUST attend classes regularly, more than 3 absences can result in the reduction of an entiregrade. Students MUST read assigned readings. Students MUST actively participate in class discussions. Students MUST participate in special group presentations. GROUP PROJECT Rules and Regulations for the Group Presentation: I. Each group must submit one typewritten three (3) (minimum) page document outlining the group's topic, approach and discussion of the subject matter. The document should include the following: A (1) A discussion on the Black experience or Africana. Cite and use references in your presentation. At least four (4) sources must be used in addition to any of the required texts, five (5) sources in all, not counting encyclopedias and internet sources. (2) A mission statement which clearly states the ideologies and philosophies of your group. (3) An outline of a clear-cut plan of action to help to eradicate racism in America. Please, narrow your presentation on a particular aspect of Black experience. (4) Develop a plan for evaluating your project. B 1. All projects should include some form of visuals, especially, video, charts, fliers, etc. 2. All group members must participate in the writing of the presentation. 3. All group members are expected to discuss a portion of the topic in class. 2 The oral presentation should be about 15 minutes with a 5 minute question and answer period. (20 minutes in all) 4. All group members must be able to defend the approach and presentation during question and answer section. 5. All group members will receive the same grade. 6. All group members must be present during the time of the presentation. No exceptions! 7. Please, be innovative and creative. 8. Your peers will help to evaluate your presentation. 9. Most importantly, your group must ultimately work together! Individual Creative Project Paper: Each student will be required to write a typed, double-spaced ten (10) page (minimum) paper. The paper may be an expansion of the group class presentation. The project paper must begin with a statement of a thesis, —what it is that one is writing about in the paper. This must include mission statement as well as an explanation of what is to be accomplished in the rest of the paper; this should be no more than one page. At least four (4) sources must be used for the paper in addition to any of the required texts, not counting encyclopedias and Internet sources. Grading Scale: A= 100 - 90 B= 89 - 80 Evaluation of Grades Group Project & Individual Research Paper Inventory of Racism Midterm Personal Responses 5 @ 5% Participation Final Exams _______________________________ Total C= 79 - 70 D= 69 - 60 F=59 - below 25% 5% 20% 25% 5% 20% 100% Students must attend classes regularly, more than two (3) absences will result in the reduction of an entire grade. CLASS SCHEDULE Week 1: January 20/22 Introduction: Lecture: Defining African Americans and Terms Relating to the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations Video: A Class Divide Readings: Part 1. Introduction; The Africana Paradigm; “What Is Africa to Me?” Assignment 1: Inventory of Life Experiences with Racism (Response Paper: RP 1) Due January 3 This assignment must be typed and double-spaced. Be prepared to share your assignment in class the following week. Start forming class presentation groups. Week 2: January 27/29 Lecture: From Race as a Term to Institutional Racism Readings: Part1. “The Battle for Black Studies” Assignment: Inventory of Life Experiences with Racism Video: Sankofa Week 3: February 3/5 Lecture: Historical Examination of Racial Theories Sharing Session: Inventory of Life Experiences with Racism Readings: Part 2. Race and Race Theory; Race and Fascism Video: Ethnic Notions Assignment 2: Answer questions on Part 1 on page 66. (RP2) Due February 17 Week 4: February 10/12 3 Lecture: Enslaved Africans, Immigration and the Original Americans Comparative Overview Readings: Part 1. W.E.B. DuBois: Of Our Spiritual Strivings; Of the Faith of the Fathers; The Sorrow Songs Video: The Huddled Masses; Jefferson’s Blood Assignment 3: A three page paper comparing and contrasting the African American arrival in America with that of the immigrant groups and non-immigrants. (RP3) Due March 5. Choose Topic of Term Paper Week 5: February 17/19 Lecture: The Sexualization of Racism Video: Jungle Fever and Zebra Head Readings: Part 3 “The Hip-Hop Generation”; bell hooks Black Looks “Reconstructing Black Masculinity” (on Blackboard) Discussion of texts Week 6: February 24/26 Lecture: The Sexualization of Racism Continued Video: Clips from Jungle Fever and The Myth Readings: Part 3 “The Hip-Hop Generation”; bell hooks Black Looks Week 7: March 3/5 Lecture: The Color Complex Video: A Question of Color Readings: Part 3 “African Diaspora Women” Assignment 4: Write a three (3) page paper on “Racial Psycho-sexual Relationships.” (RP 4) Due on March 26 Preparation for Midterm Examination SPRING BREAK March 7 - 15 Week 8: March 17/19 MIDTERM EXAMINATION March 17 Lecture: The Consequences of Racism: Internal Colonialism and Beyond Readings: Part 2 “Discrimination and the American Creed”; “Racism and Fascism” Assignment: Start rough draft of Term Paper Video: Black and White in America Week 9: March 24/26 Lecture: Living With Racism: The Black-Middle Class Experience. Video: Walking While Black Presentation: Eradicating Racism Groups 4 and 5 Readings: Part 4 “The Streets: An Alternative Black Male Socialization Institution”; Discussion of presentation and texts Draft of Term Paper Week 10: March 29 / April 2 African Americans and the Black World in the 21st Century Lecture: Living With Racism: The Black-Middle Class Experience. Readings: Part 4 “A Profile Familial Relations among Three-Generation Black Families Video: Black Farmers Blues Presentation: Eradicating Racism Groups 6 and 7 Week 11: April 7/9 African Americans and the Black World in the 21st Century Lecture: Living With Racism: The Black-Middle Class Experience. Video: Black Nuclear Plant Workers Presentation: Individual Creative Project for Eliminating Racism. Groups 8 and 9 Reading: Part 4 “Contemporary Socioeconomic of Trends” … 4 Complete draft of Term Paper Week 12: April 14/16 Lecture: Affirmative Action, African American College Students: Privileges and Obstacles Video: Racism 101 Presentation: Eradicating Racism Group 10 Reading: Part 4 “Demand-Side Changes and Relative Economic Progress of Black Men: 1940-90” Week 13: April 21/23 Lecture: Where Do We Go From Here? Reading: Part 5 “The Black Church, the Civil Rights Movement and the Future” ”Black versus Black” Presentation: Individual Creative Project and Paper for Eliminating Racism Video: America: Black and White Week 14: April 28/30 Lecture: Black America, the Global Black Experience and America Reading: Part 5 “Africans and Racism in the New Millennium” Video: News Items Lecture: Black America, the Global Black Experience, America and the Future Reading: Part 5 “Black Transnationalism, Africana Studies and the 21st Century” Video: News Items Review ********Term Paper due Tuesday, May 5, 2015******* FINAL EXAMINATIONS: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 @ 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism will result in your failure of the course and have disciplinary action taken against you. The Student Conduct Code explains plagiarism on page 18 as: representing the work of another as one’s own work; preparing work for another that is to be used as that person’s own work; cheating by any method or means; …soliciting, aiding, abetting, concealing, or attempting conduct in violation of this code. If you are unsure or have any problems citing the sources of your information, you may consult me or use the services of the Writing Center. Avoid taking information from the Internet without citing the source. Emergency Procedures: Southern Illinois University Carbondale is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the SIUC Emergency Response Plan and Building Emergency Response Team (BERT) program. Emergency response information is available on posters in buildings on campus, available on the BERT'S website at www.bert.siu.edu , and Department of Public Safety's website. www.dps.siu.edu (disaster drop down) and in the Emergency Response Guidelines pamphlet. Know how to respond to each type of emergency. Instructors will provide guidance and direction to students in the classroom in the event of an emergency affecting your location. It is important that you follow these instructions and stay with your instructor during an evacuation or sheltering emergency. The Building Emergency Response Team will provide assistance to your instructor in evacuating the building or sheltering within the facility.