Course Description
The religious traditions of African Americans from Colonial times to the present; major religious movements, personalities, and ideas and their relationship to various aspects of American culture.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additional readings and a research paper along with more extensive examinations to reflect the additional responsibilities.
Athena Title
AFRCN AM REL HIST
Prerequisite
Junior or senior standing or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered every odd-numbered year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1) to identify the origins and chief points of developments of major black religious groups in American history; 2) to identify major black religious personalities in American history and their impact in religion and culture; 3) to enumerate, categorize, and compare the variety of religious institutions, movements, and ideas among African Americans; 4) to list major points of contact and mutual influence between religion on one hand and movements for social, political, and economic change on the other; 5) to acquire a more in-depth understanding of contemporary black and non-black America as influenced by historical religious ideas, institutions, and movements associated with the black experience. Communicate Effectively through Writing To strengthen skills in written composition, analysis, and presentation by means of projects such as essays, papers, reports, and examinations. Communicate Effectively through Speech To strengthen skills in oral expression, analysis, style, and interaction by means such as class reports, class discussion, and oral examinations. Computer Literacy To enhance and facilitate computer literacy by the use of word processing, the web, email, and OASIS through research, preparation, and presentation of work such as oral class reports and completion of written assignments. Critical Thinking To foster critical thinking by engaging in activities such as classroom discussion and debate, essay examinations, and oral presentations. Moral Reasoning (Ethics) To assist in the continued development of moral and ethical reasoning and reflection by encouraging creative thinking regarding individual and community concerns and needs, the challenging of prejudices and stereotypes, and examining rational and ethical bases of constructive social interactions.
Topical Outline
I. Introduction: Philosophy and Methodology II. The African-European Encounter in Colonial America, 1619-1775 III. Evangelical Awakenings and African Americans, ca. 1730- ca. 1830 IV. Rise and Early Development of Independent Congregations, Denominations, and other Ecclesiastical Bodies, ca. 1750 - ca. 1865 V. Religion among Enslaved African Americans, ca. 1800-1865 VI. Black Religion and Social Change, 1783-1865: Focus on Slavery VII. From Emancipation through World War I, 1865-1918 VIII. Black Religion during Decades of Increased Urbanization, 1915-1954 IX. An Age of Rapid Social Change and Rising Black Consciousness, 1953-1968 X. Black Religion in the Post-Civil Rights Era, 1966-Present XI. Summary and Reflections
Syllabus