English 327/527-001:
African American Detective Fiction
Prof. Norlisha Crawford
Email: crawforn@uwosh.edu
Jan.
30:
Introduction to course; Raymond Chandler’s essay on the genre, defining
the genre’s terms
Feb.
1:
“The Cult of True Womanhood,” social changes, and the femme fatale
6:
Chandler, Raymond, Farewell My Lovely, discussion of chapters 1-13
8:
Chandler cont’d, discussion of chapters 14-30
13:
Chandler cont’d, discussion of chapters 31-close; in-class writing exercise
15:
Bailey, Frankie Y., opening essay from Out of the Woodpile; discussion and
selections from film, Ethnic Notions
20:
Soitos, Stephen, discussion of essay from The Blues Detective, “City within A
City”; discussion
22:
Himes, Chester, The Crazy Kill, discussion of chapters
27:
Himes cont’d, discussion of chapters; discussion of Jezebel and Mammy
stereotypes
1:
Himes cont’d, discussion of close of novel; workshop, thesis paragraph of
first essay
6:
film, Devil in a Blue Dress; first essay due
8:
Neely, Barbara, Blanche and the Talented Tenth, discussion of chapters 1-
Mar.
*************Spring Break, March 19-25th **************
Apr.
27:
Neely cont’d, discussion of chapters 4-9
29:
Neely cont’d, discussion of 10-close of novel; in class writing exercise; discussion
of second essay
3:
Woods, Paula, Inner City Blues, discussion of chapters 1-5; workshop of
thesis paragraph for second essay
5:
Woods cont’d, discussion of chapters 6-11
May
10:
Woods cont’d, discussion of chapters 12-17
12:
Woods cont’d, discussion of chapters 18-close; in-class writing exercise
17:
film, A Murder in Harlem; second essay due
19:
Nichelle D. Tramble, The Dying Ground, discussion of chapters [TBD]
24:
Tramble cont’d, discussion of chapters [TBD]
26:
Tramble cont’d, discussion of chapters [TBD]; in-class writing exercise
1:
film, TBD
3:
George Pelecanos, Right as Rain, discussion of chapters 1-4
8:
Pelecanos cont’d, discussion of chapters 5-17; discussion of final project
10:
Pelecanos cont’d, discussion of chapters 18-close of novel; final essay/project due
This syllabus may change at the discretion of the instructor.
Participation in discussions is strongly advised so that ideas are offered from a variety of
perspectives. Participation includes questions you contribute and in-class small group discussion
participation.
Attendance is mandatory. Two unexcused absences will result in an automatic reduction in
your overall grade by one full letter grade.
About the course: African American detective fiction was “born” with the publication of a
serialized novel, Hagar’s Daughter, published over several months in 1900-01, in The Colored
American magazine. There have been as of 2007 over 40 African-American authors publishing
in the genre. We will read a select group of texts that range across that 106 year time span. In
part these works join a national literary tradition—African American, but they also join that of
all others who write crime/mystery/detective fiction, a genre that has existed since at least 1841.
In April of that year Edgar Allan Poe published “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” It was the
first of three stories that would set the early standards and expectations for a new literary genre.
Although this course’s primary focus will be detective fiction written by and about African
Americans, we will begin with a novel written by a white American, Raymond Chandler.
Farewell My Lovely (1940) is an influential work that provides an historical understanding of the
ways subsequent works that we will read and discuss evolved with regard to racialized
stereotypes and images. The course will end with George Pelecanos’s novel, Right as Rain;
Pelecanos is a Greek American. In between we’ll read a variety of interracial perspectives and
2
works in the genre, including two films. All will focus in part on explorations of the African
American experience.
The issues raised within the various texts may sometimes be difficult to discuss because often the
plots deal with discrimination and injustice. But struggling as a group to discuss and write about
what each literary texts offers us in form and content, hopefully you each will find new ways of
understanding with more complexity both our shared society and the human experience. The
genre works also will allow us to enjoy ourselves as we follow the clues to determine whodunit!
The works have a great deal of humor—often a hallmark in the African-American literary
tradition. That combination is one of the beauties and exquisite wonders of art forms: They help
each of us, as readers, as critical thinkers, as citizens to learn and grow in ways that just living
our own individual lives would never be able to allow.
I urge each of you to read carefully as you enter the fictional worlds of the texts. Imagine those
settings from the perspectives of the characters. Pay close attention to the artful pictures the
authors’ “paint” with words for your mind’s eye to see. What does the text say precisely that
causes you to see what you see? How do particular word choices precisely work or fail to
communicate across the differences between individuals? Literary analysis--constructing
arguments based upon supporting evidence from the texts and addressing critical questions about
literary forms and their content--will be our intellectual goal in the course. Come prepared to
class, so that you too may participate fully in learning from your readings and the discussions.
The final grade breakdown is:
2 essays (5-7 pages)
@ 20% each
3 in-class writing exercises* @ 10% each
Final essay/project**
@ 30%
40%
30%
30%
Total for final grade
100%
More detailed instructions will be given about each essay as we progress in the semester. There
will be in-class workshops for brainstorming your thesis for each writing assignment.
*In-class writing exercises will be discussed in class as they are due. You will be provided with
a focus question to consider in the writing. The exercises are to be used to expand on ideas that
occur to you individually in response to the questions about the texts we are reading.
**Final essays/projects: Imaginative interpretations are encouraged in relation to the literary
works you are highlighting. The goal of the final is to expand upon concepts or themes you find
particularly interesting from our readings. You may choose to create a piece of art that suggests
an idea or write an argumentative essay (7-10 pages). The artistic choice must be accompanied
by a 2-3 page explanatory essay, explaining how the piece suggests your idea form the readings.
Creative projects are encouraged, but the form and content must be discussed and approved in
advance by the professor.
3