AFR215-003 - Southern Illinois University

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.