SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
COURSE: AFRAS 170-A-section 02 AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY
FALL 2013
COURSE SCHEDULE NUMBER: 20086
Professor: Dr. Anta Anthony Merritt
e-mail: amerritt@mail.sdsu.edu
Office hours:
Location: Arts and Letters Building Room 369
Days/Times: Wed. 4-6 pm
Instructional Student Assistant: Mr. Jordan Powell
e-mail: <nbajordan08@yahoo.com
Class meets: Thurs. 4-6:40 PM. Class Room: SSE 1401
SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION: American history from a Black perspective. These courses (AFRAS 170-A and 170B) satisfy the graduation requirement in American Institutions. AFRAS 170-A explores the political, economic, and
social history of people of African descent from the early Colonial period to the end of the Civil War. Emphasis will
be placed on the role played by Black people in the foundation and development of America.
REQUIRED TEXT: African Americans, A Concise History, 4 th edition, by D. Hine, et. al.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES : The main objective of this course is to enable the student to grasp the
fullness of the history of Blacks in the Americas. To accomplish this, the student will have learned the following at
the end of this course:
1) Identify, use and analyze major themes, issues, and concerns of Africana people
2) Identify key features of an Africana response to living in the world; an Africana world-view
3) Identify and discuss Africana People’s history and culture.
4) Overview of West & Central African history and culture
5) The Black Diaspora, and its relationship to African Americans
6) The significant role played by Blacks in all of America’s periods of critical
development and change from 1620-1865
7) The interaction between Native Americans and Blacks in America.
8) The nature and scope of the institution of slavery; the multiplicity of forms of Black resistance
9) The Civil War: causes; role of Enslaved and Free Blacks;
10) American Institutions required material, at it related to African Americans, to include:
a. Declaration of Independence;
b. Slavery and the Constitution; Fugitive Slave Laws
c. Indian Removal Act
d. Pre-Civil War Compromises & Acts of 1820 & 1850; Kansas-Nebraska Act; Dredd Scot Case.
e. Emancipation Proclamation; 13th, 14th, and 15th Constitutional Amendments
COURSE METHODOLOGY: The course will employ various methods (lecture, power point, films, class
discussions and (time and class size permitting) student presentations to promote informed and analytical thinking
about the nature and scope of American history as seen through the experience of Black people.
GRADING POLICY: Your final grade in this course will be based on this percentage system. It is based on the
total points possible for the course, which is 400 points:
I DO NOT “ROUND UP” PERCENTAGES-NO EXCEPTIONS. To get an A, for example, the lowest possible
percentage must be a WHOLE 94%, nothing less (a 93. 75% for example would be an A-)
Letter Grade Assignments
Percent
Letter Grade
94 - 100
A
90 - 93
A-
87 - 89
B+
83 - 86
B
80 - 82
B-
77 - 79
C+
73 - 76
C
70 - 72
C-
67 - 69
D+
63 - 66
D
60 - 62
D-
< 60
F
EXTRA CREDIT MAY BE OFFERED FOR THIS COURSE; IT IS NOT A GIVEN
POINT DISTRIBUTION:
This course is comprised of four tests. Each test is worth 100 points
INSTRUCTIONAL STUDENT ASSISTANT:
This course has an Instructional Student Assistant. His role is:
1. To conduct the scheduled tests
2. To conduct make-up tests for students who miss the scheduled exam. Make-ups will be held at mutually agreed
upon dates and times. See his e-mail address for scheduling.
3. Occasionally, he may begin a class. He is an Africana Studies major and is qualified to do this.
4. Perform other classroom duties as designated by the instructor.
**The student assistant is not responsible for making decisions on disputed grades. If you wish to dispute a test
grade, or consult about a test, or consult about your progress in this class, you need to see me during office hours or
by appointment.
TEST INFORMATION:
1. Tests are multiple choice/true false. Each test is equally weighted in terms of points; no test will be dropped.
2. You will be provided with a study guide for each test, posted on Blackboard, in “course documents” section.
3. Power point will be presented for the lectures and reading assignments. Power points may be posted on
Blackboard.
4. All tests require a #882 green and white scantron and pencil.
CLASS ETIQUETTE and STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES: There are several common sense rules for this
class:
1. No eating during class
2. Turn off phone ringers during class
3. Conversation, or other non-class related activity or habits that disturbs either your classmates learning OR
disturbs the instructor will not be tolerated
ANYONE IN VIOLATION OF ITEMS 1-3, WILL BE DISMISSED FROM CLASS FOR THAT DAY. SECOND
AND SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS OF ITEMS 1-3 WILL RESULT IN DISMISSAL FOR THAT DAY, AND A
LOSS OF 20 POINTS. (also see item #5)
4. Please be on time to class. If you must arrive late, enter quietly, and take the first available empty seat. If you
must leave early, leave quietly
5. A student will be dropped from class if he/she continues to exhibit behavior that prohibits or impedes any member
of the class from pursuing class learning objectives.
6. You will be responsible for all the materials presented in class (lecture, films and discussions of reading
assignments), even if you are tardy or absent. Material previously covered in class may not be repeated.
7. Any student who accumulates absences that exceed 6% of the total semester hours may be dropped by the
instructor
.
EXTRA CREDIT: Extra credit options may be offered; if so, those options will be offered to all students. In NO
CASE will extra credit be offered to an individual student--DON’T ASK.
EXAM POLICY AND LATE WORK POLICY:
a) No exams may be taken early
b) Only one “make-up” exam per student will be permitted; after that, you will lose 15 pts. per make up,
unless you have a verifiable, documented excuse
ACCESSIBILITY: Students who need accommodation of their disabilities should contact me privately to discuss
specific accommodations for which they have authorization. If you have a disability, but have not contacted Student
Disability Services at 619-594-6473 (Calpulli Center, Suite 31010), please do so before making an appointment to
see me.
FALL 2013 ASSIGNMENT CALENDAR
(Dates and Topics Subject to Modification)
CHAPTERS LISTED ARE FOR GENERAL BACKGROUND READING; REFER TO STUDY GUIDES ON
BLACKBOARD FOR MORE SPECIFIC PAGES
ANCIENT AFRICA; TRADITIONS OF AFRICA
Topics: Origins of Humankind, Geography & Physical Features of Africa; Major Civilizations of West
Africa; Culture of Traditional Africa
1. Aug. 29>Class introduction and lecture
2. Sept. 5>chapter 1, and film
3. Sept. 12>chapter 1, lecture and review
4a. Sept.19>TEST #1; Lecture after Test, time permitting
ENSLAVEMENT: SLAVE TRADE; COLONIAL PERIOD
Topics: Africans in Europe; The Transatlantic Slave Trade; Types of Enslavement; Early Experiences of
Enslaved Blacks in the Caribbean, Latin America and North America; Blacks in the North American
Revolutionary War
Next semester fall 2014-consider shortening from 4 to three class of instruction for midterm (didn’t need 4
4b. Sept. 19>introduction to chapter 2
5. Sept. 26>continue chapters 2, 3, and 4
6. Oct. 3>continue chapters 2, 3, and 4
7. Oct.10>continue chapters 2, 3, and 4
8. Oct. 17>complete chapters 2, 3, and 4; Review for Midterm
9a. Oct.24>Test #2 (THE MIDTERM; Lecture after Midterm, time permitting
NATIONALIST AND PRE-CIVIL WAR PERIOD
Topics: American Institutions (Slavery and the Constitution; Fugitive Slave Law of 1873; Indian Removal
Act; Slave Codes); Blacks and Native Americans; Seminole Wars; Anti-slavery Conspiracies and Revolts;
Antebellum Life of Enslaved and Free Blacks; American Colonization Society
9b. Oct. 24>introduction to chapters 5, 6, 7, 8
10. Oct. 31>continue chapters 5, 6, 7, 8
11. Nov.7>continue chapters 5, 6, 7, 8
12a. Nov.14>TEST #3; Lecture after Test, time permitting
CIVIL WAR PERIOD
Topics: Underground Railroad; Black and White Abolitionists; American Institutions (Compromises of 1820
&1850; Fugitive Slave Law of 1850; Kansas-Nebraska Act; Dred Scott Case); John Brown’s Raid; The Civil
War (Causes; Role of Blacks; Contraband and Confiscation Acts; Lincoln and the Emancipation
Proclamation).
12b. Nov. 14>introduction to chapters 9, 10 and 11
13. NOV. 21> chapters 9, 10 and 11
14. Nov. 28>chapters 9, 10 and 11
15. Dec.5>complete chapters 9,10 and 11; Q&A Review
16. Dec. 12> FINAL EXAM-4-6 pm.