Course Description
The African background of African Americans, the institution of slavery, the development of the African American community institutions, and African American participation in and impact on the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Athena Title
EARLY AFR AME EXPER
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
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.
Topical Outline
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.