Time Schedule:
Wanda M. Brown
AFRAM 101
Seattle Campus
History, culture, religion, institutions, politics, economics, arts, and psychology of peoples of African descent as developed from experience in both the old and new worlds. Multidisciplinary analysis of social life from a Black perspective as illustrated in selected historical and contemporary writings.
Class description
African American Studies investigates the history, culture, religion, institutions, politics, economics, arts and psychology of peoples of African descent in both the old and new worlds. Using a multidisciplinary analysis of social life from a Black perspective this course employs historical and contemporary writing to examine African American social, political and economic life in the United States. We will focus on four historical periods: Slavery in the mid-19th century; Jim Crow during the first half of the 20th century; desegregation, the civil rights and black power movements of the 1950’s and 60’s,and our contemporary post-civil rights movement. We will explore some of the fundamental ideas and themes that constitute core knowledge of the field of African American Studies. Course readings, guest speakers, Socratic discussions, and visual and audio sources will present a survey of the African American experience, with an emphasis on freedom, justice, self-determination, and the assertion of rights. Readings include the works of African American public intellectuals, as well as documents from historical and archival records. We will examine and analyze relevant research/data pertaining to African Americans in the United States. Visual and audio sources will complement readings on African American experiences in the United States. Ideally, your experience in this class will be transformative, encouraging you to think critically and to pursue further study of the field of African American Studies.
Student learning goals
Explain the historical factors that led to the development of the field of African American Studies in the American academy.
Understand the ways in which writing can serve as a tool for social justice and equality through critical assessment of texts, practices, and policies.
Through thorough review of the experience of Africans in the Americas students will be able to use this as a template for understanding minority groups’ relationship with majority populations.
Investigate and understand the concept of race, the ways that race functions as a social construction with real, material consequences
Think critically, analyze and discuss a wide range of texts, research related articles and data relevant to the topic.
Develop research skills and the ability to locate and evaluate relevant research materials/data in a succinct manner.
General method of instruction
The course will be taught using an interactive-seminar format. The class will engage students in both traditional and more contemporary learning activities that will include: A. Presentations B. Small and large group classroom activities such as discussions, role plays, case studies, simulations C. Interaction with peers, professionals, community members as guest speakers. D. Formal individual and group presentations
Recommended preparation
N/A
Class assignments and grading
Promptness and attendance at each class, on task behavior, leadership and support during group work and projects. Students will be expected to completed assignments that will be a combination of related reading assignments, discussion questions, " in class" and out of class activities related to core themes.
Element Points A. Attendance and Participation 20 B. Mid Term: Family Genealogy 30 C. Reflection Paper /Response to Discussion Questions 20 D. Culminating Research Project Presentation 30 Total 100
