African American History
GEIG1424, Summer 2024 (May 13 - June 14)
Overview
This course analyzes the tribal and national background of Africans before their forced migration to Latin and North America. It examines the so-called "Triangle Trade," Africans in colonial and revolutionary America and the lives of free Black Americans as well as those held in bondage. A close look at the Abolitionist Movement and the American Civil War is included. Prominent African Americans from Benjamin Banneker and Phyllis Wheatley to Martin Luther King and Maya Angelou will be studied. The political, social, economic and religious positions and circumstances of African Americans in the twentieth century will conclude the course.
Credits
4
Contact hours
60
Course Goals
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
1. Discuss verbally and in written form the events that precipitated the African presence in
Colonial America.
2. Discuss verbally and in written form the evolution of slavery in Colonial America, noting the differences in selected colonies.
3. List and discuss the experiences of African Americans prior to the Civil War and after Reconstruction.
4. Discuss verbally and in written form how state legislatures and the Supreme Court defined race relations in America.
5. Discuss the African American experiences in 20th century America.
Required Text(s)
Freedom On My Mind (combined Volume), 2ed, Deborah GrayWhite, Mia Bay and Waldo E. Martin, Bedford/St. Martin's Macmillan Learning, Jr. ISBN:978-1-319-02133-7
Other reading materials will be provided by the instructor
Course Evaluation
Quizzes 40%
Writing Assignments 20%
Weekly Exams 40%
Total 100%
Meetings:
Students will be required to meet in zoom on three separate occasions during the semester: The first time will be for orientation on the Monday this class opens. The other two times will be for the one-hour course meetings scheduled on the Mondays before the midterm and the final exam. Students will have 2 points deducted from their final grade for each meeting that they do not attend with the cameras on.
Division of the Course:
This course is divided into 10 units. Each unit has 6 videos that corresponds with the unit. Each unit is broken down into sub-themes which are illustrated below in the schedule as well as in the videos.
Quizzes: (40%)
There will be 10 quizzes with each one being worth 4 percentage points of the total grade. These quizzes will be based on the reading and the lecture and will be given at the end of every unit. These quizzes will be multiple choice.
Writing Assignments: (20%)
There will be 10 writing assignments. Five of the lowest writing assignments will be dropped. The writing assignments will consist of students reading either from the textbook and/or articles posted. Students must cite their work with Turabian or Chicago Style citations. Each one of the assignments should be at least 250 words. Writing assignments that are not at least 250 words will result in a 0.
Exams: (40%)
There will be two exams worth 20 percent each. These exams will be essay based and will require the student to respond to three questions. Each response will be 600 words and must cite the word with books and articles used in the course.
Grading Scale
|
Letter Grade
|
A+
|
A
|
A-
|
B+
|
B
|
B-
|
C+
|
C
|
C-
|
D
|
E
|
X
|
|
Scores
|
90-100
|
85-89
|
80-84
|
77-79
|
73-76
|
70-72
|
67-69
|
63-66
|
60-62
|
40-59
|
1-39
|
0
|