Course Description
An examination of representative works of such nineteenth- and twentieth-century social, cultural, and political thinkers as Frederick Douglass, Cornel West, Anna J. Cooper, and Angela Davis, among other outstanding women and men who have contributed significantly to the intellectual life of the African American community.
Athena Title
African American Thought Hon
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in HIST 4055, AFAM 4055
Prerequisite
Permission of Honors
Pre or Corequisite
Any HIST or AFAM or PHIL or HONS course
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course requires students 1. to recognize the different social and historical contexts in which individuals function, as well as how their personal experiences influence their proposed programs and the level of effectiveness of their interactions with their own communities as well as with the larger society. 2. to recognize the similarities as well as the differences articulated in the thought of the individuals under review. 3. to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize a significant amount of reading material from a variety of sources with complementary, but not duplicate, lecture materials. 4. to participate knowledgeably in class discussions informed by mastery of course materials. 5. to demonstrate critical and analytical skills in writing papers and answering comprehensive essay questions on written examinations. Because this class is taught within the Honors program, there will be a special emphasis on the interpretation of primary documents, and the class will take advantage of the seminar format to discuss these documents at greater length. Students will be expected to demonstrate their ability to analyze these documents in both the written assignments and in the exams.
Topical Outline
Utilizing lectures, assigned readings, and class discussions, students will examine representative works of selected nineteenth- and twentieth-century African American social, cultural, and political thinkers. The course addresses the articulated thought of African American women as well as men. Lectures present the broader historical contexts in which these thinkers functioned and consider the impact of individualism, gender, and change over time on the subjects of the course. The course adopts a chronological approach and focuses on approximately ten African American intellectual exponents, selected from such representatives as Maria Stewart, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. DuBois, Anna Julia Cooper, Ida Wells Barnett, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Angela Davis, bell hooks, and Cornel West.