African-American Literature 20- REVISED SYLLABUS

Dr. Lisbeth Gant-Britton

    

African American Literature

Los Angeles City College

(An analysis of the crucial role that literature has played and still plays as one of the contributions of African Americans. Includes material from early Africa to contemporary America and the diaspora.)

LACC –  (0212) 3 units, 10:35am-Noon, Room FF 220

Dr. Lisbeth Gant-Britton  

Webpage: http://Afamlit 20.blogspot.com

Email: gantbrl@lacitycollege.edu; 323 212-5320

What has been and continues to be the crucial role of African American literature, in all its varied forms, in the U.S., particularly in this “information age”? African Americans’ voices have sometimes been referred to as the “conscience” of this country. From now into the foreseeable future, these voices will be more important than ever before. Statistics indicate that the entire United States is headed towards “superdiversity.” This means that in the future, in many parts of the country, people of color will account for significant portions of the population, in some cases, the majority. That unprecedented interplay of race and ethnicity makes it important for all students to be able not only to analyze the writings of important figures who have come before us, but also to be able to write well yourselves to enter into this dialogue. This course will undertake to examine key literary texts in various forms including fiction, poetry, spoken word, drama, television, film, as well as newer media such as blogs, beats and websites.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will learn to read critically and undertake in-depth analysis by writing two research papers, participating in extensive class discussions, including team focus groups, and executing relevant outside research.

Required Texts:

Lisbeth Gant-Britton, Ph.D. Holt African American History. Holt McDougal (2007)

Other brief required reading excerpts posted on webpage. Please read before class.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

Midterm	20%
Final	20%
Two short research papers	40%
Class participation (students will help lead certain class discussions and team focus groups)	20%
TOTAL	100%
Optional extra credit available

WEEK- REVISED READINGS TO BE DONE BEFORE CLASS –READINGS ON WEBSITE            

Week 1—Tues     2 (Sept.)                 Introduction                        

4                              Coming of Age stories

Week 2--                9 and 11                                Issues of identity, beauty and colorism past and present

Reminder to register and then later, vote on Nov. 4 – Extra credit with voting stub as proof

               

Week 3--                16 and 18              HBCUs past and present

Reading: Holt, p. 157-160; 175-181; 191-196

Ideas for Paper No. 1 (family paper) due- Thurs 9/18

Week 4--                23 and 25              Black veterans past and present

Reading: Holt, p. 185-189; 201-205; 209-213; 217-222

Week 5--                30 and Oct 2         Black music past and present

Paper No. 1 (family paper) due- Thurs 10/2

Reading: Holt, p. 235-240; 243-247

Week 6--                7 and 9                 Laws and legislation past and present

Reading: Holt, p. 253-260; bring Constitution booklet

Week 7--                14 and 16              Black youth past and present, including Civil Rights movement

Ideas for Paper No. 2 due- Thurs 10/16

Reading: Holt, p. 261-266; 269-274

Week 8--                21                           Midterm Review

                                23                           Midterm (Bring new, unfolded Scantron and pencil)

Week 9--                28 and 30              Work on paper- drafts       

Week 10-- Nov     4 and 6                  African American Politics past and present

Reading: Holt, p. 305-315; 337-341; 345-348

Reminder to vote on Nov. 4 – Extra credit with voting stub as proof

Week 11-- Nov     11                           Veteran's Day – No class

13                           Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Week 12--             18                           Black Athletes- Symbols Against Oppression

                                20                           Reading Day- prepare to turn in Paper No. 2

Can email paper draft for revision

Week 13—            25                           The Black Power movement past and present

Reading: Holt, p. 277-283; 285-290

                                                                Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael

Paper No. 2 due

27                           Thanksgiving – No class

Week 14-- Dec     2 and 4                  Black family and food, Kwanzaa

Reading: Holt, p. 295-298; 321-324; 329-333

OPTIONAL EXTRA CREDIT DUE

Week 15 Dec        9                              Final Review

Week 16—            11                           Final (Bring Scantron and pencil)     Thank you! Great class!

ASSIGNMENTS

Paper No. 1

Family Stories Paper –Goal: Become the “family historian” (called in West Africa, the “Griot”.)  Your goal will be to find out something about your family you did not already know. Examples:

-          Is there a “public story” your family presents to others? Is there also a private story? 

-          Is there a prominent member of your family, the patriarch or matriarch, the one who has kept the family together and kept things going? Has that person accomplished something significant in society or primarily in the home?

Note re sensitivity of material: If your material is sensitive, let me know, so I will keep it private.

Process:

1.       Talk to oldest person (or persons) in your family or a family friend.

2.       Do library research to provide contextual evidence for key family circumstances you analyze. (Ex: if they came from a particular part of the world, tell us a little about it to provide a context for the reader.)

3.       3pp, double-spaced; please number pages.

Research Paper No. 2 –

Do further research on one of the topics we have covered. 

1.       Come up with a position you want to take regarding this material (your argument).

2.       Select three outside scholarly sources and quote from their material to support your argument. You may use one of the authors from our reading list, provided you do not re-use the material we already used in class from that source.

3.       Topic and argument to be approved by Dr. Gant-Britton.

Example: An argument that books and films depict the most “beautiful” black women as being thin and having features similar to Caucasians. You might argue that full-figured, more African-looking women are equally beautiful and should be depicted as such in books and films.

1.       Due Tues. Nov. 25

2.       3pp, double-spaced; please number pages

Possible Extra Credit Paper

Do an analysis of a book or film. Explain what the argument or main position is and how the character development operates to make that goal.

2pp. Due: Thurs. Dec. 4, but may be turned in earlier

Participation and In-Class Collegiality: As you know, I deeply respect all of you and hope that you will respect one another. Let’s please conduct all interactions, even if we disagree, in as mutually respectful and beneficial manner as possible.

Attendance: Occasionally, accidents or illnesses occur. Since we only meet once a week, it is important that to make every effort to attend class on time. Students may miss one class without having to notify me. However, if there are other absences, you will need to get either prior permission and/or provide written justification. If not, points will be deducted from your course grade. Students who arrive late or leave early without prior permission and/or appropriate justification will also have points taken from course grade.

Examinations:

Midterm and Final: You will be tested on material from class presentations and the readings. The midterm will cover the first half of the term; the final will cover the second half. Please purchase your Scantrons in advance and bring a pencil to take the exams.

Make-ups: A midterm make-up is available if student has an acceptable written justification for original midterm absence. (Make-up: week after exam). Since the final exam occurs on the last day of class, there is no make-up for that test. Please plan your schedule very carefully.

Paper Format: Papers will need to be:

1. Typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 font; handwritten papers will not be accepted;
2. Written with the full number of required pages, excluding title page and Works Cited page or images. If paper is 3 pages minimum and you write only 2 1/2 pages, points will be deducted if you try to add space by using an extra large font, by padding the paper with photos for space purposes and extra spaces between lines.

3. Because email is not always reliable, no emailed papers will be accepted unless there is an emergency with written justification and the procedure has been approved by Dr. Gant-Britton.

Administrative Information

If you have health, family or any other difficulties, please let me know as soon as possible, so that we may maximize your opportunity to complete the course successfully.

In case of on-campus emergency, the Campus Sheriff's number is 323-662-5276. If possible, put in your phone. From campus phones it's #3; that's "pound three".

1. Drop date statement for syllabus- Important!  Drop Date Information

The deadline to drop without a “W” is the last day of Week 2 (of the semester.  If you must drop a course, drop before the specified deadline for dropping a class without a grade of "W." Dropping after Week 2 will result in a “W” on your transcript.  Students now have just 3 attempts to pass a class. If a student gets a "W" or grade of "D", "F", “I”, or "NP" in a class, that will count as an attempt. A student’s past record of course attempts district wide will also be considered. Therefore, before the end of Week 2 you should carefully consider if you can reasonably manage this course with the other factors in your life (e.g. work, family, course load

2. You may also see a counselor in the Counseling Center in AD 108. Short-term classes: Drop dates for short-term classes are not the same as full semester classes. For specific deadline dates, please contact the Admissions Office.

3. If you need help paying for books and other college expenses, call the Financial Aid Office at (323) 953-4000 extension 2010, or see them at Student Services Village room 117, http://www.lacitycollege.edu/stusvcs/finaid/.

4. Students with a verified disability who may need authorized accommodation(s) for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and the Office of Special Services (SSV 100, 323-953-4000, ext. 2270) as soon as possible, at least two weeks before any exam or quiz.  All information will remain confidential.

CONTROVERSIAL CONTENT STATEMENT

This course includes discussions of a frank and coarse nature about particular subjects of a racial, sexual, or religious nature, protected by the college’s academic freedom statutes that may be considered offensive and controversial to some. When such topics arise during the course of this semester and a student wishes to be excused, please notify the instructor that you wish to be excluded from class discussion on the grounds that it is personally offensive and the instructor will excuse you until such discussion has concluded.