Miles College Course Syllabus

Miles College Course Syllabus SEMESTER & YEAR:

Fall 2013

COURSE TITLE:

African American Experience

COURSE HOURS:

3 Credit Hours

CLASS MEETING DATES/TIMES/LOCATION:

SS 101-01: 8:00 - 8:50 in AL 203 SS 101-03: 10:00 - 10:50 in AL 109 SS 101-04: 1:00 - 1:50 in AL 203 SS 101-11: 8:00 - 9:20 in AL 109

INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION: Instructor’s Name: Contact Policy:

P. W. Jones Office: AL 211; Phone; 929-32-82 Cell; 492-1152 Email: [email protected]

Office Hours:

M/W/F: 10 am – 12 am & 2 pm - 4 pm Tue/Thu: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a survey course of the history of African Americans in the United States. The African background, the origin and development of slavery, the abolitionist and protest movements, legislative and judicial efforts to achieve racial equality, and the contributions of African Americans to American society will be explored. Special emphasis is placed on the economic and political rights of African Americans since the 1960s. PREREQUISITE(S)/CO-REQUISITE(S): Prerequisite: None Co-requisite: None TEXTBOOK(S) AND OTHER LEARNING RESOURCES: African Americans: A Concise History (Combined Volume), Fourth Edition: Hine, Hine and Harrold Any additional materials will be distributed in class and/or maintained at the LRC.

COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO’s): Students will demonstrate an understanding of societies and cultures. Additionally, students will be able to:

1. Identify and describe the significance of important figures, terms and facts related to United States history and the African American experience. Enabling Tasks: lectures, text readings, additional reading assignments, class discussions, short documentaries. Evaluation Tools: completion of varied assessments. 2. Demonstrate their knowledge of the historical presence, cultural and political experiences and contributions of African Americans to the United States from the 1600s to the present. Enabling Tasks: lectures, text readings, additional reading assignments, class discussions, short documentaries. Evaluation Tools: completion of varied assessments. 3. Demonstrate their understanding of the significance of race and class within and outside the Black community. Enabling Tasks: lectures, text readings, additional reading assignments, class discussions, short documentaries. Evaluation Tools: completion of varied assessments. 4. Explain the roles Birmingham, Alabama and Miles College have played in African American and American history. Enabling Tasks: lectures, text readings, additional reading assignments, class discussions, short documentaries. Evaluation Tools: completion of varied assessments. 5. Utilize those skills that are important in academic inquiry (including writing, problemsolving, critical and creative thinking, library research, communication, and technological/Internet skills). Enabling Tasks: lectures, text readings, additional reading assignments, class discussions, short documentaries. Evaluation Tools: completion of varied assessments.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

(SHOULD BE FULFILLED IN EACH COURSE, REGARDLESS OF INSTRUCTOR) Check when completed

Date Completed

Core Competencies Guide Sheet (List Major Assignments, Exams, Written Work, Oral Presentations, Projects, Quizzes, Activities, etc…)

Assessment No. 1 (class discussion) will assess students’ oral communication skills as well as their knowledge of materials covered prior to the mid-term exam. Additionally, students’ critical thinking and analytical skills will be assessed. (Chapters 2 – 12 and related lectures; SLOs 1 – 3 Assessment No. 2 (test #1) will assess knowledge of African civilization, European exploration and slave trade, middle passage and slavery in the Americas, slavery and the colonial experience, American independence and impact on African Americans, US Constitution, blacks in the new republic, rise of king cotton and domestic slave. Chapters 2 – 6 and related lectures; SLOs 1 – 3 and 5 Assessment No. 3 (writing assignment #1) will assess knowledge of African civilization, European exploration and slave trade, middle passage and slavery in the

Americas, slavery and the colonial experience, American independence and impact on African Americans, US Constitution, blacks in the new republic, rise of king cotton and domestic slave. Chapters 2 – 6 and related lectures; SLOs 1 – 3 and 5 Assessment No. 4 (midterm examination) will assess knowledge of African civilization, European exploration and slave trade, middle passage and slavery in the Americas, slavery and the colonial experience, American independence and impact on African Americans, US Constitution, blacks in the new republic, rise of king cotton and domestic slave, the antebellum era, abolitionist movement, pro slavery forces, factors leading to the Civil War, emancipation, Civil War Amendments and Reconstruction. Chapters 2 -12 and related lectures; SLOs 1 - 3 Assessment No. 5 (class discussion) will assess students’ oral communication skills as well as their knowledge of materials covered after the mid-term exam. Additionally, students’ critical thinking and analytical skills will be assessed. (Chapters 16 – 23) and related lectures; SLOs 1 – 4. Assessment No. 6 (test #2) will assess students’ knowledge of Reconstruction, Redemption and the rise of Jim Crow, founding of Birmingham and Miles College, Great Migration. African American culture in the early twentieth century (including the Harlem Renaissance), African American leaders (including but not limited to Washington, DuBois, Garvey Chapters 21, 22, 23 and SLOs 1 - 4 Assessment #7 (writing assignment #2) will assess students’ knowledge of the modern day Civil Rights Movement and their perspectives on the African American experience in the 21st century. Chapters 21- 23; SLOs 1 - 5 Assessment #8 (final examination) will assess students’ knowledge of African civilization, European exploration and slave trade, middle passage and slavery in the Americas, slavery and the colonial experience, American independence and impact on African Americans, US Constitution, blacks in the new republic, rise of king cotton and domestic slave, the antebellum era, abolitionist movement, pro slavery forces, factors leading to the Civil War, emancipation, Civil War Amendments and Reconstruction, Redemption and the rise of Jim Crow, founding of Birmingham and Miles College, Great Migration. African American culture in the early twentieth century (including the Harlem Renaissance), African American leaders (including but not limited to Washington, DuBois, Garvey, the modern day Civil Rights Movement and the roles of Birmingham

and Miles College. Chapters 2 -13, 16 – 23, lectures; SLOs 1 – 4

EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT The following list is a breakdown of how each student will be evaluated for final grade calculations at the end of the term: All of the activities which are engaged in by the students and guided by the instructor will form the basis of evaluation. Normally, the following will be the following: Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4 Assessment 5 Assessment 6 Assessment 7 Assessment 8 Total

Class Participation Test #1 Writing Assignment #1 Midterm Examination Class Participation Test #2 Writing Assignment #2 Final Examination

200 points 50 points 50 points 200 points 200 points 50 points 50 points 200 points 1000 points

Miles College’s Grade Breakdown: 90-100% 80-89% 70-79% 60-69% 59% or below

A B C D F

ATTENDANCE

The Instructional Council has approved a policy to require attendance in all courses of instruction at Miles College, effective Fall semester of 2013. CLASS PARTICIPATION A student’s course participation grade will be based on the professor’s assess-ment of the quality of the student’s constructive contribution to the learning of all course participants. A high participation grade may be earned by asking text-informed questions about course subject matter, but simply attending class may not maximize participation credit. When speaking in a class session, a class session, a class participant must address the members of the class and the pro-fessor. Exchanges will be orderly, cooperative and informed – in short, con-structive. Every participant will be involved in class discussions, but no one parti-cipant may dominate any discussion. A participant must contribute construc-tively to class discussion to receive a high course participation grade. a. Make-up Work: Examinations may only be made up with permission of instructor on presenting a valid MEDICAL excuse. Students lacking a documented reason and have not taken or submitted assessments 1 - 3 will have until October 17, 201 to make up that work. All tests will be implemented at the instructor’s convenience. Students who

do not have a documented reason for submitting assessments and assignments late will have twenty points subtracted from their overall score. b. Lateness: No student will be recorded as present if he/she is more than ten minutes late. Late students need to quietly and quickly take their seat so as to not disturb the professor and other students. c. Contagious Diseases: If you have the flu, stomach virus or similar malady, please do not come to class until you are no longer contagious. Email me to apprise me of your condition and to find out what you may have missed. Follow the Course Assignment sheet as you recuperate.

STATEMENT ON DISCRIMINATION/HARASSMENT Miles College is committed to providing both employment and educational environments free of harassment or discrimination related to an individual’s race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Any practice or behavior that constitutes harassment is a violation of Miles College policies and will not be tolerated.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 state that qualified students with disabilities who meet the essential functions and academic requirements are entitled to reasonable accommodations. It is the student’s responsibility to provide appropriate disability documentation to the College. Please contact the ADA representative, Mr. Deleon Fancher, 205-929-1816. If you are an ADA student, it the obligation of the student to present your Accommodations paperwork to your instructor (for each class you are enrolled in). Ideally, this paperwork should be submitted at the beginning of the semester to enable best course support for you.

FALL SEMESTER: SS 101(M/W/F) TENTATIVE ASSIGNMENTS CHECKLIST This is a tentative schedule. If there are any changes to be made, they will be made by the instructor and announced well in advance

SPECIAL NOTE: Please keep up with the reading assignments and come to class. If class has been suspended for whatever reason, do not take that day as a holiday. Continue to do your work. Begin preparing your writing assignments early. The writing assignments will be distributed to you in a timely manner. Take notes on what you read and during lectures. Keep a good body of notes. Use a DICTIONARY when reading. Prepare all the chapter review questions and put the answers in your own words. Study for your tests and exams and stop by my office if you think you need help.

AUGUST & SEPTEMBER M - 19

 Introduction Lecture Topics  Africa: Birthplace of Civilization  Defining Slavery and the West African Experience  European Exploration of Africa and the African Slave Trade Begin Reading Chapters 2, 3 and 4: (Answer the questions at the end of each

chapter. Put your responses in your own words. Responses need to be in ink or typed and stapled.

Be prepared to submit your work to me on the discussion day.)

W – 21

F – 23

M – 26

Lecture Topics  Continuation of Previous Session  Slave Caravans and Forts/Factories  Olaudah Equiano, the Middle Passage and Seasoning  Africans in Colonial America and Slavery Lecture Topics  British Colonies and West African Influences in the Americas  British Colonies and Slavery  The Road to Independence: The Enlightenment and the First Great Awakening  The Declaration of Independence: Jefferson and Banneker Lecture Topics  Discussion of Chapters 2, 3 and 4  Continuation of Previous Session  US Constitution and the References to Slavery  Forces for Freedom and Forces for Slavery  Free Blacks in the New Nation  The Missouri Compromise  The Rise of King Cotton  Begin Reading Chapters 5 and 6 (Answer the questions at the end of each

chapter. Put your responses in your own words. Responses need to be in ink or typed and stapled. Be prepared to submit your work to me on the discussion day.)

W - 28

F – 30 W – 04

 Continuation of Previous Session Lecture Topics  The Domestic Slave Trade  The World the Slaves Made and Hierarchy of Slaves  Urban and Industrial Slaves  Discussion of Chapters 5 and 6 Lecture Topics  Continuation of Previous Session Lecture Topics  Free Blacks in the US: A Step Above Freedom  Black Institutions (Churches, Schools, Newspapers, Associations, etc.)  Free Blacks By Geographical Regions  The Second Great Awakening  The Antislavery and Abolitionist Movements Begin Reading Chapters 7 and 8 (Answer the questions at the end of each chapter. Put your responses in your own words. Responses need to be in ink or typed and stapled. Be prepared to submit your work to me on the discussion day.)

F – 06

M–9

Lecture Topics  Continuation of Previous Session  Abolitionism Intensifies and Pro Slavery Movement Intensifies  Douglas & Delaney/Tubman and Truth/Walker  Discussion: Chapters 7 and 8 Begin Reading Chapters 9 and 11 (Answer the questions at the end of each chapter. Put your responses in your own words. Responses need to be in ink or typed and stapled. Be prepared to submit your work to me on the discussion day.)

W – 11 F – 13

Convocation 

Lecture and Discussion: Folk Tales

M – 16 W – 18



Lecture and Discussion: Runaways

Lecture Topics  A House Becoming Divided: Compromise of 1850 and Fugitive Slave Law of 1850  A Firebell in the Night  Last Ditch Efforts to Save the Union  A Solid South(?) and A Solid North(?): Secession  Who Will Win: The South’s Arguments and the North’s Argument  Begin Reading Chapters 12 and 13 (Answer the questions at the end of each chapter. Put your responses in your own words. Responses need to be in ink or typed and stapled. Be prepared to submit your work to me on the discussion day.)

F – 20

Video Presentation

M – 23

Assessment #3: Writing Assignment #1

W – 25

Review for Test

F – 28

Assessment #2: Test #2

M – 30

Lecture Topics – Continuation of Previous session OCTOBER

W – 02

Lecture Topics  The End of Slavery and the Meaning of Freedom  Reconstruction: Lincoln, Johnson and Radical Reconstruction  Civil War Amendments  Assessing Reconstruction

F – 04



Discussion of Chapters 12 and 13

M–7



Wrapping up the Civil War and Reconstruction

W–9



Review for Mid Term Exam

F – 11 M – 14

 Assessment #4: Mid Term Exam Video Presentation  Begin Reading Chapters 13 and 16 (Answer the questions at the end of each chapter. Put your responses in your own words. Responses need to be in ink or typed and stapled. Be prepared to submit your work to me on the discussion day.)

W – 16

Sharecropping and Crop Lien System  Lecture Topic: Redemption

F – 18

Lecture Topics  Plessey v. Ferguson and other relevant cases  The Supreme Court  Fighting Against Segregation  Discussion of Chapter 13  Begin reading chapters 16 and 17 (Answer the questions at the end of each chapter. Put your responses in your own words. Responses need to be in ink or typed and stapled. Be prepared to submit your work to me on the discussion day.)

M – 21

Lecture Topics

    W – 23

F – 25 M – 28

Birmingham, Alabama: A New South City Mile College 16th Street Baptist Church and the Black Community in Birmingham Begin reading chapters 16 and 17 (Answer the questions at the end of each


Lecture Topics  Of Mr. Booker T and W.E.B  The Progressive Era and Black Agitation  NAACP and the Urban League  The Great Migration: The Promised Land?  Marcus Garvey and the UNIA  The Harlem Renaissance  Discussion of Chapters 16 and 17

W – 30

    

The Great Depression and FDR Impact of the Great Depression on African Americans FDR’s Black Cabinet and Blacks and the Democratic Party A. Philip Randolph and Unionization The Red Scare

F – 01

   

The Scottsboro Boys The Tuskegee Experiment Black Life in the 1930s and 1940s: The Arts, Church and Sports Begin Reading chapters 18 and 19 (Answer the questions at the end of each

M–4



Discussion of Chapters 18 – 19

W–6



Assessment #6: Test #2

F – 08

  

WWII, the Cold War and the African American Experience Truman: To Secure These Rights The Coming of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement (Brown v. Bd of Education and the Montgomery Bus Boycott Begin reading chapters 20 and 21 Continuation of Previous Session A Movement Takes Root Discussion of Chapters 20 and 21

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

M – 11

W – 13

F – 15

   


 Bombingham  Miles College  Letter from A Birmingham Jail  Civil Rights Act of 1964 Lecture Topics  Selma, Lord Selma



Voting Rights Act of 1965

W – 18



Discussion of Chapters 22

F – 20



Assessment #7: Writing Assignment #2

M – 26



Discussion of Chapters 22

W - 28



Discussion of Chapter 23

W – 28



Discussion of Chapter 23

F – 30



Review

M-2



Review

Assessment #8: Final Examination Final Exam is Comprehensive