SYLLABUS AFRICAN AMERICANS IN HISTORY AND LITERATURE (Engl 347/Hist 320E) Dr. Ann Bush Kathleen P. Munley, Ph.D. Texts/Materials: Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Nellie Y. McKay (gen. eds.), The Norton Anthology: African American Literature Mary Frances Berry and John W. Blassingame, Long Memory: The Black Experience in America Possible handouts, material on reserve in the library, and websites Curricular Focus: This course will investigate the experience and identity of African Americans in the United States as revealed in historical documents and literary works. Through the study of the significant contributions this minority has made and continues to make to America, this course addresses the curricular focus, "living responsibly in an interdependent world." Objectives: To gain a broad familiarity with and appreciation for the literature and history provided by African Americans To explore African-American literary works as reflective of the histories of African Americans' experience and identity as a racial minority in America To develop an understanding of and sensitivity to the diversity of African Americans and their position as a minority in the United States To respond critically and personally to ideas and values, feelings and emotions projected by African-American literature and historical documents To improve information literacy skills by formulating a thesis and providing sound research to support that thesis To integrate technology and print works by exploring and evaluating websites related to African-American history, literature, and/or culture Learning Assessment: One Research Paper (20%) 5-8 typed, double-spaced pages A separate sheet of requirements for this paper will be handed out along with material on information literacy. Class Participation (20%) Included in this category are oral and written contributions: in-class discussion, at least 2 discussion starters (written questions or comments on each work), one web-site evaluation, possible quizzes (announced or unannounced), possible brief assignments (written or oral). Three examinations (60%) Objective, short answer, and essay questions will be included. Essays must answer questions completely and clearly and must include a thesis statement and specific facts and precise arguments that support the thesis. Dates for the two exams during the semester will be given as the course progresses. The final exam will be given on the date and at the time assigned by the Registrar. Academic Integrity: Marywood's academic honesty policy on cheating and plagiarism, found in the Student Handbook, is in effect for this course. If you cheat or plagiarize, you will receive an F for the assignment and an F for the course, and your name will be submitted to the appropriate MU authorities. All written work must conform in every way to the standards of good English. Class Decorum: Think before you act! Your behavior affects the entire class! Distracting another student or the professors is unacceptable! Tardiness and nonparticipation (sleeping, doing work for other classes, daydreaming, remaining silent, and the like) are major distractions! Show courtesy and respect to all! Focus on the tasks at hand! Join in class discussions and activities! Listen respectfully to others! Attendance: Please plan to come to all classes prepared to work. Your input is vital to the success of our work this semester, and you cannot really participate if your mind or your seat is empty. You have the luxury or necessity of three absences (excused or unexcused) before your course grade will drop. We may call you if you are absent. Eight absences will result in failure of the course. If a lengthy illness or a situation arises that will cause you to have eight or more absences for any reason, you should drop the course and retake it at a later time. If you miss a class, you will miss work that you cannot make up, work vital to your success in the course. We cannot recreate the thoughtful discussion that takes place during any class. Please come to class on time. Each three times tardy for class will count as an absence. The same applies to leaving class early. Letting us know ahead of time that you will be late, leave early, or be absent is courteous, but you are still subject to the class attendance policy. Coming to class unprepared or behaving inappropriately will count as an unexcused absence. Course Outline/Readings: I. Introduction History: Berry and Blassingame, Introduction, pp. vii-xxi; Race and Group Identity; Terminology, Chap. 11, pp.388-400. All literature selections come from The Norton Anthology: African American Literature. Page numbers follow the titles of selections or introductions. Literature: Intro, 1-5; Spirituals, 5-7; "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel," 10-11; "Soon I Will Be Done," 11-12; "Steal Away to Jesus," 13; "Go Down Moses," 14; "Been in the Storm So Long," 14-15; James Weldon Johnson's "O Black and Unknown Bards," 769-770; Gospel, 16-17; "Down by the Riverside," 18-20; "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," 20; The Blues, 22-23; "Good Morning Blues," 33; "See, See Rider," 27, "Backwater," 29-30; "Sunnyland," 36; "How Long Blues," 31; Dunbar's "Sympathy," 900; Folktales, 102-103; "All God's Chillen Had Wings," 103-105; "Deer Hunting Story," 106-107; "Ah'll Beatcher Makin' Money," 108-111; "How God Made the Butterflies," handout. II. Slavery, 1746-1865 History: Slave and Free, Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 1, pp. 3-32; Chap. 2, pp. 33-69. Literature: Intro, 127-136; Olaudah Equiano, 138-164; Harriet Jacobs, 207-222; Frederick Douglass, 299-302, 310-313, 324-330, 336-365, 369-373; James M. Whitfield, 401-402 and "America," 402-405. III. Reconstruction, 1865-1919 History: American Society and African Americans, Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 3, pp. 70-113; Gender, Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 4, pp. 114-141. Literature: Intro, 461-472; Booker T. Washington, 488-490, 513-521; Charles W. Chestnutt, 522-532, 545-553; Ida B. Wells-Barnett, 595-606; W.E.B. Dubois, 606-609, 614-619, 633-642, 752-759; James Weldon Johnson, 766-768, "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," 768-769, Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, 777-861; Paul Lawrence Dunbar, 884-886, "We Wear the Mask," 896, "Philosophy," 903-904; Fenton Johnson, 924-925, "Tired," 928. IV. Harlem Renaissance, 1919-1940 History: Artistic Expression, Black Protest and Nationalism, Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 10, pp. 342-387; Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 11, pp. 388-423. Literature: Intro, 929-936; Alain Locke, 960-970; Marcus Garvey, 972-980; Claude McKay, 981-983, "If We Must Die," 984, "Enslaved," 986, "Outcast," 987; Zora Neale Hurston, 996-999, 1008-1011; Jean Toomer, 1087-1170; Langston Hughes, 1251-1254, all poems 1254-1267, The Best of Simple stories, 1297-1303; Countee Cullen, 1303-1305, "Incident," 1306; Jazz, 55-57, all jazz selections, 57-59. V. The 1940s to 1960s History: Political Action and Economic Realities, Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 5, pp. 142-180; Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 6, pp. 195-226; Chap. 9, pp. 295-332. Literature: Intro, 1319-1328; Richard Wright, 1376-1380, 1388-1396; James Baldwin, 1650-1654, 1694-1717; Lorraine Hansberry, 1725-1789. VI. The Sixties, Civil Rights Era History: Black Activism and Political and Economic Realities, Berry and Blassingame, continued, Chap. 5, pp. 180-194; Education and the American Dream, Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 8, pp. 261-294; Black Protest, Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 10, pp. 342-387; Black Military Service, Upward Mobility, and Realities, Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 9, pp. 332-341. Literature: Intro, 1791-1806; Mari Evans, 1806-1808 (all poems); Malcolm X, 1816, 90-101; Martin Luther King, Jr., 1853-1854, 80-89; Amiri Baraka, 1877-1879, "A Poem for Black Hearts," 1881, "Black Art," 1883-1884; Sonia Sanchez, 1902-1903, "for our lady," 1904-1905; Maulana Karenga, 1972-1977; Haki R. Madhubuti, 1977, "Back Again, Home," 1978, Intro to Think Black, 1978-1979, "The Long Reality," 1979-1980, "Malcolm Spoke / who listened?" 1980-1981; Nikki Giovanni, 1982-1983, all poems, 1983-1985. VII. The 1970s to the Present History: Blacks and the American Criminal Justice System, Berry and Blassingame, Chap. 7, pp.227-260. Additional materials to be distributed; computer research assigned. Literature: Intro, 2011-2020; Rap, 61-62, all Rap songs, 61-68; Maya Angelou, 2037-2039, "Still I Rise," 2039-2040; Audre Lorde, 2203-2204, 2210-2212; June Jordan, 2227-2228, "Poem about My Rights," 2231-2233; Clarence Major, 2241-2242, 2247-2250; Alice Walker, 2375-2377, 2287-2294; Rita Dove, 2582-2584, "Demeter's Prayer to Hades," 2594. We reserve the right to make changes in this syllabus to meet the objectives of the course. EACH SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Contact the English Department at: 570-348-6219. E-mail: English@marywood.edu.

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