Tennessee State University College of Liberal Arts Department of History, Geography, Political Sciences and Africana Studies AFAS

2010 Introduction to Africana Studies Spring 2013 ~ 9:10 10:00PM Wednesday Instructor: Mr. Kalonji McClellan E-mail: kalonjimcclellan@gmail.com Website: www.taneya-kalonji.com/africanalchemist Womens Building Office hours: M, W, & F 12:00 1:00 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 radical means, 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. Required Text: Afrocentricity: The Theory of Social Change, Dr. Molefi K. Asante, author; ISBN: 0913543799.

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 of the modern world To use writing, reasoning, and analytical skills to express an understanding of Africana Studies To 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 topics Students 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% Essay 1 10% Essay 2 10% Genealogy Project 30% Midterm Exam 30% Final Exam 100% 10 points 50 points 50 points 50points 100 points 100 points 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 will be 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 may choose 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 for the viewpoints of others. Similarly, we must all learn how to probe, oppose and disagree without resorting to tactics of intimidation, harassment, or personal attack. No one is entitled to harass, belittle, or discriminate 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.

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 about which 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 turn in 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 only exceptions 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 Outline Week 1: Defining Afrocentricity:Introduction and Overview of the Course (January 20th Holiday; MLK No Classes) Week 2: Religion, Spirituality, and Philosophical Perspectives Week 3: Black Consciousness Week 4: College Life & Activism Week 5: Black Women and Africana Studies Week 6: Social, Psychological, Political, and Economic Dimensions in Africa Studies (March 10 16; Spring Break) Week 7: Africana Studies in the Diaspora (Midterms/Spring Break) (March 17 23; Midterms) Week 8: African-Americans & Stereotypes Week 9: Humanities Perspective in Africana Studies Week 10: Black Theology, Black Churches, and Black Women Week 11: Africana/Black Studies as an Agent of Empowerment for Student Development Week 12: Africana Studies & Archival Research Week 13: Public Education & Africana Studies Week 14: Review for Exam & Begin Final Presentations (May 1 Last Day of Class) Week 15: Final Exam & Final Presentations (May 2 9; 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.

Your final product should include four paragraphs of your own analysis, totaling around at least 500 words. TABLE 1: Slave Disembarkation Regions in Mainland North America (shows number of slaves sold to mainland North America and what colonies they were sold in). What does this table tell you about the chronology (pattern over time) of the African slave trade to the mainland North American colonies? How significant was North America as a destination in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade taken as a whole? TABLE 2: Slave Embarkation Regions in Africa (shows the ports of origin of Africans sold into slavery in mainland North America and the total numbers from each place). What does this table tell you about the patterns of participation in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, about how it changed over time, and where it hit the hardest? TABLE 3: Slave Origins and Destinations in Mainland North America (shows both the point of origin in Africa for those sold into slavery and where they arrived in Mainland North America). Now you know where slaves landed in the mainland colonies (what became the U.S. South), and where they left from in Africa. How much can this table tell us about the place of origin of people of African descent living in the United States? Your short essay must adhere to the following: 1. Must be 2 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. Cover sheet is not necessary!

Technical Instructions for Writing Assignment 1 1. Go to http://slavevoyages.org/tast/index.faces 2. Scroll over Voyages Database at the top of the page and then click on Search the Voyages 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 place of 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 periods For Columns select Embarkation regions For Cells select Sum of disembarked slaves Click Show Now, write one paragraph of analysis.

d.

Create Table 3: Slave Embarkation Regions in Africa and destination in America a. 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

 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 18 For 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 research an 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.