1. Students will learn to read and think about African American 
literature as a living, growing, endeavor with origins on both 
sides of the Atlantic.
2. Students will learn to discuss African American literature, 
histories and cultures with comfort, elegance, and 
sophistication with their peers and with their instructor.
3. Students will gain an understanding of the historical forces 
that have shaped the cultural productions of African Americans.
4. Students will learn to write about African American 
literature in different ways and for different audiences.

A sample course might consider the following themes:
Historical Advance of the Folks and the Spirit
Historical Source to Aesthetic Beauty: Lyricism of the African 
American Imagination
Dilemma of the Thinker: Integration or Revolution
Ritual of Death, Ritual of Love

Using the following texts:
Hill, Patricia, Trudier Harris, R. Baxter Miller et. al.  The 
Riverside Anthology of the African American Literary Tradition
Morrison, Toni.  Song of Solomon
Jones, LeRoi.  Dutchman and The Slave
Wright, Richard.  Native Son

Such a course might also expect students to write personal or 
academic essays, to take regular examinations covering both the 
content and the forms of the African American literature that 
the course has covered, to respond in writing and orally to the 
comments of their peers and the instructor, and/or to write in 
more informal settings such as web-postings or letters (or 
email messages) to their peers.

Students in this course are expected to be familiar with and adhere to the University
of Georgia policy on academic honesty, according to which all violations of academic
honesty will be handled. Students may participate in graded group projects at the
instructor's discretion.