Download pdf - AFAS 2010 Syllabus - Spring 2014

8/12/2019 AFAS 2010 Syllabus - Spring 2014

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Tennessee State Uni versity Coll ege of L iberal A rts

Department of H istory, Geography, Poli tical Sciences and Af ricana Studies

AFAS 2010 I ntroduction to Af r icana Studies

Spring 2013 ~ 9:1010:00PM Wednesday

Instructor: Mr. Kalonji McClellan

E-mail:[email protected]

Website:www.taneya-kalonji.com/africanalchemist

Womens Building

Office hours: M, W, & F12:001:00

T & TR email me to schedule an appointment

Purpose:

This course introduces students to the vibrant and contested field of Africana Studies by critically

exploring and analyzing the links and disjuncture in the cultural, political, and intellectual practices and

experiences of people of African descent throughout the African diaspora.

During this course, we will talk about a wide spectrum of African leaders, intellectuals, organizations and

institutions. Some have focused their energies primarily in finding ways for the African diaspora

community to survive discrimination and oppression. Through the development of their unique cultural

and social traditions, they have managed to sustain themselves in the face of almost constant adversity.

Other individuals have advocated strategies of collective political change, challenging the barriers of

inequality. And still others have resorted to more radicalmeans, from the slave rebellions of the

nineteenth century to the ghetto uprisings of the late sixties, to improve the conditions of the black people.

Despite these differences, what brings together nearly all representatives of the black experience are the

common efforts to achieve the same goals: the elimination of racism, the realization of democratic rights

and greater social fairness within a racially pluralistic society, and achievement of cultural integrity of the

African Diaspora community. Through the course lectures, required readings and discussions, hopefully

students will acquire a fuller understanding about the African centered paradigm.

Requi red Text:Afrocentricity: The Theory of Social Change, Dr. Molefi K. Asante, author; ISBN:

0913543799.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://c/Users/Taneya/AppData/Local/FALL%202013/www.taneya-kalonji.com/africanalchemisthttp://c/Users/Taneya/AppData/Local/FALL%202013/www.taneya-kalonji.com/africanalchemisthttp://c/Users/Taneya/AppData/Local/FALL%202013/www.taneya-kalonji.com/africanalchemisthttp://c/Users/Taneya/AppData/Local/FALL%202013/www.taneya-kalonji.com/africanalchemistmailto:[email protected]


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General Objectives:

To acquaint students with parts of Africa and peoples of African descent

To familiarize students with how people of African descent have played a part in the making ofthe modern worldTo use writing, reasoning, and analytical skills to express an understanding of Africana StudiesTo enable a more critical and discerning view to representations of Africa and African peoples,

historical and contemporary, in the media, and in popular and digital culture

Specific Objectives:

Students will voice and present ideas related to pre-colonial African Societies, Black

Nationalism, and other pertinent topicsStudents will develop scholarly opinions regarding works of Africana literature and research

as well as the social constructs surrounding their inspiration.Students will integrate what we have learned through our reading of Africana texts during the

semester into other courses and overall cultural awareness.

Grading Formula:10% Citizenship 10 points

10% Essay 1 50 points10% Essay 2 50 points

10% Genealogy Project 50points30% Midterm Exam 100 points30% Final Exam 100 points

100% 360 points

Midterm & Final Exam

The student will have an opportunity to either write a paper or take a test for the Midterm. The paper willbe a minimum of 5 pages double-spaced and in APA format. The Midterm essay is designed to allow only

one student per topic. All topics must be preapproved by the professor.The final exam will be a 5 - page paper and a 10 - minute presentation. Alternatively, the student maychoose to take a final exam.

A Climate of Mutual Respect:Importantly, this class will foster free expression, critical investigation, and the open discussion of ideas.

This means that all of us must help create and sustain an atmosphere of tolerance, civility, and respect forthe viewpoints of others. Similarly, we must all learn how to probe, oppose and disagree without resortingto tactics of intimidation, harassment, or personal attack. No one is entitled to harass, belittle, ordiscriminate against another on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, national origin, or sexual

preference. Still we will not be silenced by the difficulty of fruitfully discussing politically sensitive

issues.

Requirements and Expectations: Attendance: Attend class. Be prompt.


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TURN CELL PHONES OFF OR PLACE THEM ON MUTE. IF YOU MUST ACCEPT A CALL

LEAVE THE CLASSROOM.

This is not a social event. No food (drink is permitted) during class time. Remove headphones

during class. Any violation is disrespectful to your classmates and the Professor.

The best way to be successful in this class is to:

1. Complete assigned work on time.2. Read assigned material before attending class.3. Be prepared to discuss the material, to ask questions regarding concepts, principles or practices aboutwhich you are uncertain, and to participate in a variety of class exercises.

Any papers submitted after the due dates will be considered late. All students have an opportunity to turnin papers up to one week after the original due dates. The penalty for submitting late papers is reduction

in one full letter grade (e.g. an A paper submitted late is a B, a C would become a D, etc.) The onlyexceptions are health related issues and family emergencies. Please contact me if anything dire should

arise, I understand lifes complexities and will do my best to ensure a successful completion of the course._____________________________________________________________________________________

Course Content OutlineWeek 1: Defining Afrocentricity:Introduction and Overview of the Course(January 20thHoliday; MLKNo Classes)

Week 2:Religion, Spirituality, and Philosophical PerspectivesWeek 3:Black ConsciousnessWeek 4:College Life & ActivismWeek 5: Black Women and Africana StudiesWeek 6: Social, Psychological, Political, and Economic Dimensions in Africa Studies(March 1016; Spring Break)Week 7:Africana Studies in the Diaspora (Midterms/Spring Break)(March 1723; Midterms)Week 8:African-Americans & Stereotypes

Week 9:Humanities Perspective in Africana StudiesWeek 10:Black Theology, Black Churches, and Black WomenWeek 11: Africana/Black Studies as an Agent of Empowerment for Student DevelopmentWeek 12: Africana Studies & Archival ResearchWeek 13: Public Education & Africana StudiesWeek 14: Review for Exam & Begin Final Presentations(May 1Last Day of Class)

Week 15: Final Exam & Final Presentations

(May 29; Final Exam Week)

Essay: (Two pages) Due March 28

The goal of this assignment is to introduce you to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database,

slavevoyages.org, and to historical analysis using primary sources. Your assignment is to use the database

to identify the total numbers and patterns of the sale of enslaved people from the west coast of Africa to

the colonies that became the United States. To do this you will create three tables (see instructions) and

write a paragraph of analysis of each, plus a concluding reflection paragraph.


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Technical Instructions for Writing Assignment 1

1. Go to http://slavevoyages.org/tast/index.faces2. Scroll over Voyages Database at the top of the page and then click on Search theVoyages Database

Create Table 1: Slave Disembarkation Regions in Mainland North America

Under Basic variables on the left, scroll over Voyage Itinerary and click on Principal placeof slave landing

Under Current query click on the Select button and choose Mainland North America Click OK below the list Click Search On the right hand side, there will be a set of tabs along the top Click on Tables (third tab) Table setup For Rows select 50-year periods For Columns select Specific disembarkation regions For Cells select Sum of disembarked slaves Click Show

Now, write one paragraph of analysis.Create Table 2: Slave Embarkation Regions in Africa

Keep the same time frame, Basic variables, General variables, and Current query as your last

table

If you lost this, redo steps 3a-3c above Click on the Tables tab at the top (third tab) Table setup:

For Rows select 50-year periodsFor Columns select Embarkation regions

For Cells select Sum of disembarked slavesClick Show

d. Now, write one paragraph of analysis.

Create Table 3: Slave Embarkation Regions in Africa and destination in Americaa. Keep the same time frame, Basic variables, General variables, and Current query as your

last table (if you lost this, redo steps 3a-3c above)

Click on the Tables tab at the top (third tab) Table setup For Rows select Embarkation regions


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For Columns select Specific disembarkation regions For Cells select Sum of disembarked slaves Click Show Now, write one paragraph of analysis.

6. Write the concluding paragraph.

Essay 2 Due April 7, 2014

The goal of this assignment is to introduce you to the many facets of the African American family.Additionally your essay should address the following questions:

What are some of the defining aspects of Black Psychology? That is the paradox of duality

of consciousness? How does this affect the pedagogy implemented in primary & secondary

schools? How does this affect the family structure of the Black Family?

A typical essay will begin with a basic definition and then provide full explanation and defense of the

various parts of this definition.

Your short essay must adhere to the following:

1. Must be 5 pages

2. Must use a minimum of four sources, two that we have read and two from the additional reading list or

a credible source.

3. Must have a bibliography following the APA style of citation.

4. Must cite the sources that you use following the APA format.

5. Pages must be stapled together with details such as your name and the identification of the class and the

assignment on the top of the first page.

Genealogy Assignment Due April 18For US families of African descent, genealogical research often poses formidable challenges. Slavery, an

institution characterized by the treatment of individuals as property of others, drastically reduced the

number of available and reliable records and disenfranchised an entire population from their ancestral

origins. Alex Haley's Roots undoubtedly sparked a national interest in African-Americans, and many

others, in family history researchan interest which continues to present times. Shows such as the recent

PBS series, Genealogy Roadshow, and NBC's Who Do You Think You Are, highlight the sustained

interest in this hobby. During this assignment, students will complete a family tree and create a

genealogical profile of one of their great-grandparents.