HIS 309 - Blacks in the United States

Fall Semester 2011

"I beg of you to remember that wherever our life touches yours we help or hinder . . . wherever your life touches ours, you make us stronger or weaker . . . There is no escape--man drags man down, or man lifts man up."

--Booker T. Washington

"History is a people's memory, and without a memory man is demoted to the lower animals."

--Malcolm X

"But in our time, as in every time, the impossible is the least that one can demand--and one is, after all, emboldened by the spectacle of human history in general, and American Negro history in particular, for it testifies to nothing less than the perpetual achievement of the impossible."

--James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

Instructor: Junius Rodriguez

 

 

Phone: (309) 467-6416

 

 

Class Meets MWF from 10:00-10:50

Office: 201-C Burgess Hall

 

Email: jrodrig@eureka.edu

 

Location: Melick Library A-V Room

Hours: 12:00-2:00 MWF

 

 

 

Textbooks: You must purchase these five books for the course.

(1) Franklin, John Hope & Evelyn Higginbotham., From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans, ninth edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010).

(2) McLaurin, Melton A. Celia, A Slave. (New York: Avon Books, 1993).

(3) DuBois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk.

(4) Tuttle, William M. Race Riot: Chicago in the Red Summer of 1919. (Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1996).

(5) Greene, Melissa Fay. Praying for Sheetrock. (New York: Fawcett Columbine Books, 1991).

Grading:

2 HOUR EXAMS (20% EACH).........40 %

FINAL EXAM (30%).........................30 %

TERM PAPER....................................20 %

QUIZZES.........................................10 %

100

 

 

Important Dates:

M – Oct 3 - 1st Exam

F – Nov 4 - 2nd Exam

F – Dec 2 - Term Paper

M - Dec 12 - Final Exam

Course Objectives: This course is designed to trace the history of African American peoples from the earliest West African origins, through the Diaspora and to the historical present. There are six fundamental objectives that you should consider as we begin study in this course. These purposes include:

  • To understand the roots and the background of contemporary problems facing African American peoples.
  • To develop insight into the problems and goals of the African American community.
  • To appreciate the many contributions and achievements of African Americans, today and in the past.
  • To develop a critical understanding of the stereotypes that characterized past judgments.
  • To understand the roots of American racism.
  • To develop an appreciation of the racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of American society.

The Learning Center: The Learning Center, located on the first floor of Alumni Hall, provides academic services to all Eureka College students.  Consultations are available in the areas of math and writing.  Study groups, individual academic counseling and course-specific tutoring are also available by contacting Jason Zimmerman at  x6520 or jzimmerman@eureka.edu. 

Special Needs: Any Eureka College student with a disability or other special circumstances requiring accommodations or other consideration in order to successfully complete the requirements of this course is requested to identify himself/herself to the instructor and discuss the matter privately.  This disclosure should be made within the first week of the course so proper accommodations can be made.

Attendance: Attendance will be recorded on a daily basis. Regular class attendance is expected, but not required. Good attendance can possibly bump a borderline grade to a higher level when final grades are determined.

Use of Electronic Devices in Class

The use of cell phones, beepers, or other mobile devices is disruptive, and is therefore prohibited during class. Be sure to silence all such devices before the class begins. Except in emergencies that have been cleared with the instructor, those using such devices must leave the classroom for the remainder of the class period—and this will constitute an unexcused absence for the day.

 

Students are permitted to use laptop computers during class for note-taking and other class-related work only. Anyone using computers during class for work that is not related to this course must leave the classroom for the remainder of the class period—and this will constitute an unexcused absence for the day.

Make-Up Exams: Tests should be taken and written work completed on the assigned dates unless you have a valid excuse (written documentation will be required.) Make-up exams should be scheduled within a week of the missed exam.

Quizzes: Students will be quizzed on each of the four ancillary readings on the date when those works are to be discussed in class. These quizzes will consist of objective questions – likely multiple choice and/or true-false questions will be used. The combined grade resulting from these four quizzes will constitute ten percent of your course grade.

Term Paper: A term paper is due in this course on Friday, December 2. Since you will earn 20% of your grade on this project, you should realize that this paper is perhaps the most valuable learning experience that this course offers. I expect you to treat the project with the same regard that I do.

The term papers must be typed and should include a body of ten to twelve pages [2500 to 3000 words]. You are strongly advised to consult more than encyclopedias and secondary literature. Your paper needs to include the use of at least three primary sources and they need to be used prominently within the paper. 

Lecture/Discussion Outline -- This link will connect you with a day-to-day outline of course readings and assignments.

 

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