This course requires students
1. to comprehend the variety and complexity of the West African 
societies and cultures from which Africans enslaved in the New World 
derived.
2. to recognize the racial basis of the social, political, and 
economic institution of slavery white Americans developed to exploit
African labor.
3. to identify the significant role antebellum free black people played
in American society.
4. to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize a significant amount of
reading material from a variety of sources with complementary, but not
duplicate lecture materials.
5 to participate knowledgeably in class discussions, informed by 
mastery of the course materials.
6. to demonstrate critical and analytical skills in writing papers and
answering comnprehensive essay questions on written examinations.

Utilizing lectures, assigned readings, and class discussions, students
will examine the early African American experience, focusing on the 
following themes: the complexity and variety of traditional West 
African societies; the distinctions between the social, political, 
and economic importance of the institution of slavery to slaveowners 
and the importance of the slave community to slaves; the crucial role 
antebellum free black people played in the formation of African 
American community institutions; and black participation in and impact
on the Civil War and Reconstruction. The course uses both primary 
documents and secondary sources representing the historical voices of 
African Americans. In addition to written papers and examinations, the
instructor may assign oral presentations and/or group projects as
course requirements.

I expect all students to adhere to the University Honor Code and 
Academic Honesty Policy. I will provide explicit guidelines for all
written and oral assignments. I will deal with any incidents of
cheating or plagiarism severely.