AFAM204 - Introduction to Modern African American History

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Academic Year 2003/2004

Introduction to Modern African American History
AFAM 204 SP

Crosslistings:
HIST 242
AMST 238

This course explores the history of blacks in the United States since the end of Reconstruction, focusing both on the relationship between blacks and the American state and the changing attitudes among blacks about their position and status in the American nation. Although freed slaves were made citizens of the United States at the end of the Civil War, in the last 140 years, African Americans have been forced to fight for the full rights of citizenship. This course will examine how demographic, economic and political changes since the 1870s have affected blacks and will focus on the many ways in which African Americans have struggled to achieve freedom and equality in American society. Topics the course covers include urban migration, the impact on blacks of the Depression, WWI and WWII, African American cultural expression, the Civil Rights Movement, modern Black Nationalism and the status of blacks in the post-Civil Rights era. The class particularly seeks to illustrate the diversity of the African American experience since Reconstruction, with a particular emphasis on class and gender issues.

MAJOR READINGS

Ida Mae Holland, FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
Steven Lawson & Charles Payne, DEBATING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, 1945-1968
Richard Wright, BLACK BOY
Malcolm X, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X
Tera Hunter, TO 'JOY MY FREEDOM
Stephen Grant Meyer, AS LONG AS THEY DON'T MOVE NEXT DOOR: SEGREGATION AND RACIAL CONFLICT IN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS
Eric Arnesen, BLACK PROTEST AND THE GREAT MIGRATION

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One short paper (3-4 pages); one longer paper (7-8 pages); midterm, final exam.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Course requirements include two weekly lectures; weekly readings of 150-200 pages.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Romano,Renee C

Times: ..T.R.. 10:30AM-11:50AM; Location: PAC002

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 50)

SR. major: 8 Jr. major: 8

SR. non-major: 3 Jr. non-major: 3 SO: 14 FR: 14

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Writing

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2004