"I pledge allegiance to the flag--the white flag.
When they say black or negro, it means you're not an American. You think I'm
jiving?"
--Charles Mingus
". . . so far as their culture is concerned, all Americans are part Negro."
--C. Vann Woodward
"Clio with Soul"
Dept. of Language and Literature
AML 2600
AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
Dr. Doug Ford
Fall 2010
Office: 645
Office Hours: M: 9-10 am, noon-2pm
W: 9-10 am, 1-2 pm
F 9-10, noon-2 pm
TR 9-9:30, 11-12:30, 2-3 pm
Office Phone: 408-1501
E-mail: fordd@scf.edu
Web page: http://faculty.mccfl.edu/fordd/fordd.htm
SCF Virtual Library: http://www.mccfl.edu/pages/109.asp
Course Description:
Prerequisites: ENC 1101 and concurrent registration in or completion of ENC 1102 with
a grade of "C" or better. This course meets the Area IV requirement for
A.A./A.A.S./A.S. general education requirements, the 6,000-word Gordon Rule
requirement and part of the six-hour International/Intercultural requirement. Historical
and critical analyses of African-American literature; its roots in an Afro-centric cultural
and literary experience that affects major genres and historical movements: slave
narrative, poetry, folklore, drama, political essay; Reconstruction, the Harlem
Renaissance; and the Black Arts Movement, as well as the development of the novel and
contemporary writers are covered.
Course Performance Standards:
At the completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. Distinguish major genres, movements, texts, and authors of the African-American
literary canon.
2. Trace and explain the historical origin and development of major themes in AfricanAmerican literary texts.
3. Demonstrate understanding of the significance of African-American literature to
American literary history.
4. Demonstrate understanding of critical and theoretical issues contained in secondary
scholarship.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the vocabulary needed for the study of literature.
6. Demonstrate college-level reading skills through textual analysis, including detection
of tone, bias, stereotypes, and underlying assumptions.
7. Demonstrate college-level writing skills, including incorporation of primary and
secondary source material, through a variety of writing assignments, including one or
more formal, research-based assignments.
8. Fulfill the writing requirements mandated by SBE 6A-10.30 (Gordon Rule).
9. Demonstrate academic research skills, including the use of current documentation
methods and both print and electronic sources.
10. Demonstrate use of technological skills necessary for academic work.
11. Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively with peers on at least one group
presentation or project.
12. Demonstrate awareness of the universality of the human experience as reflected in
diverse cultures and their written works.
13. Demonstrate knowledge of culturally diverse authors, works, and literary movements.
Texts and Required Materials:
 The Norton Anthology of African American Literature, Eds. Henry Louis
Gates and Nellie Y. McKay. ISBN: 0393-97778-1
 Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison. ISBN: 0-679-72313-7
 Pen and paper for note-taking and in-class writings
 Access to a computer in order to log-in to ANGEL and complete out-ofclass assignments
 An activated SCF e-mail address to correspond with instructor
Attendance Requirement
Because this course involves students sharing viewpoints and discussing literature,
consistent attendance is mandatory. Missing four class meetings compromises a
student’s ability to interact with professor and classmates, and I may ask students to
withdraw at this point. Accordingly, students who miss more than four class meetings
and remain in the class will receive an F for their participation grade, and their final
course grade will drop by one letter. Hence, a passing grade may become a failing one
because of absences. Please note that I do not distinguish between excused and
unexcused absences, and please do not ask me to make exceptions.
In addition, excessive and/or frequent tardiness will result in a penalized participation
grade. Students who arrive late on a regular basis will not receive higher than a C grade
in participation, and the grade may become an F, depending on the frequency of
tardiness.
Late Paper Policy
Please note that I do not give passing grades to late assignments. If you cannot attend
class on the day that an assignment is due, you should e-mail me your work either as an
MS Word attachment, or embedded in the text of the e-mail on the day that the
assignment is due. Note: my e-mail address is fordd@scf.edu, as indicated at the
top of this syllabus. I grant extensions only in the event of an illness or injury to your
own body that can be verified with official documentation from a medical professional.
Withdrawal Policy:
In accordance with the State College of Florida policy, as stated in the college catalog,
students may withdraw from any course, or all courses, without academic penalty, by the
withdrawal deadline listed in the State College of Florida academic calendar. This
semester, the withdrawal date is March 25. Students should take responsibility to initiate
the withdrawal procedure but are strongly encouraged to talk with their instructors before
taking any withdrawal action. In addition, students should note that faculty may also
withdraw students for violating policies, procedures or conditions of the class, as outlined
in individual class syllabi, and such action could affect financial aid eligibility.
Gordon Rule:
This course meets the Florida State Board of Education Rule Number 6A-10.30. In
accordance with this rule, students will complete written assignments totaling 6,000
words. A grade of C or better is required for credit in Gordon Rule classes.
Regarding Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the use of ideas, facts, opinions, illustrative material, data, direct or indirect
wording of another scholar and/or writer—professional or student—without giving
proper credit. As a general standard, SCF stipulates that expulsion, suspension, or any
lesser penalty may be imposed for plagiarism. As a personal rule, I do not pass students
who plagiarize, even if it is just a single sentence.
Standards of Conduct:
Students are expected to abide by the guidelines stated in our student handbook. Also,
students must silent cell phones before the beginning of class. If your cell phone goes off
during class, you will have to stand up and dance to your ring-tone.
Format for Writings:
Formal writings (i.e. essentially anything turned in for a grade) should be submitted in a
format that conforms to the MLA style. In the upper left hand corner, students should
list their name, the course, the professor’s name, and the date. The student’s last name
and page number should be included in the upper right hand corner of every page. Also,
in accordance with the MLA style, each paper should include a Works Cited page listing
all relevant material. I prefer one-inch margins, with a 12 pt. font (either Times New
Roman or Courier).
Note: I do not accept papers that do not conform to the MLA style. Turning in a
paper without a Works Cited page, for example, will be returned with no grade (a
student can’t pass the course unless all work is graded).
Required Writing Assignments:
All of the following assignments must be completed and turned in on time for a
student to pass this course.
“Revolution” Paper: In his contemporary study, To Wake the Nations, Eric J.
Sundquist describes what the phrase, “right of revolution” might mean in the context of
African American literature. Specifically, he links the “right of revolution” to “the right
of slaves to claim the same moral authority for their own freedom that had served as the
foundation of the United States itself.” In a 600-word paper, you will analyze one text
we have read so far in this course and determine for yourself what the “right of
revolution” might mean to the writer of that text. Would he or she agree with
Sundquist’s assessment? What does Sundquist mean?
Your paper should consist of your own ideas, and you should support those ideas with
quotations and details from the text you’ve chosen. Don’t simply re-state points made in
class, as this will pull your grade down.
In addition to this analysis, this paper has a modest research requirement. Find one
source that tells you something about slavery that you did not already know. This source
can come in the form of one of the following: a book, a journal article, or something
found in the library’s databases. Use a valid academic source, NOT Wikipedia!
Your paper should be formatted in the MLA style, and it should include a Works Cited
page. Minimum word length: 600 words
Explication/Panel Paper: This paper will offer a close reading of one text that
we’ve read during the semester. For this paper, you will choose one passage from the
story and argue why it is the most important line in the reading selection. In other
words, you will find a passage in the story that you see as essential to the understanding
of the whole story it comes from. You must quote this passage somewhere in the paper,
then explain why you chose it. In this paper, you may explain how this passage helps
you understand a theme, a concept, or a character in the story from which it comes. As
with any paper, you should include quotations and other relevant details from the text you
are discussing. The paper must also come with a Works Cited page, as always. This
paper will be part of a panel presentation that students will conduct in groups of
three or four. Minimum word length: 400 words
“Signifying” Paper: We will learn in this course that “signifying” is a specific
rhetorical device in African American culture. It can refer to a savvy form of insult,
verbal jousting, or even a process whereby one author makes playful references to
another author. In this paper, you will analyze how Ralph Ellison “signifies on” two
other writers in his novel, Invisible Man. To complete this paper in a satisfactory way,
you must read the entire novel, and your paper must address MORE THAN one chapter
or episode to the novel. Your paper should have a clear thesis that explains what Ellison
gets out of signifying on these authors and how it affects your reading of Invisible Man.
As always, we sure to use quotations and other relevant details from all the texts you
discuss. Minimum word length: 1,200 words
Exams: This course will involve both a mid-term and a final examination. Students
will have to identify significant passages and explain why they are relevant to the texts
from which they come. Students who do not keep up with the reading schedule will find
these very difficult to pass. There will be no multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank exams in
this course.
Quizzes and Participation: I will frequently give quizzes to verify that you
completed reading assignments. Reading quizzes will take place at the very beginning of
class, and students who arrive late cannot take these quizzes. If you arrive while I am
administering one of these quizzes, I will ask you to wait outside the door until they
are finished. At the end of the semester, I will average your quiz grades and use these as
the basis for your participation grade. Your participation grade will go up or down from
there, depending upon the quality and quantity of your contributions to class discussions.
Also, because this is a web-enhanced course, I will occasionally ask you to log-in to
ANGEL in order to participate in an online discussion. Failure to participate in
those discussions in the assigned way will result in the loss of participation points.
To get an A in participation is pretty simple. You must do the following:
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Get an A average on your quizzes
Show some interest in the material by offering thoughts, questions, and feedback
during class discussion (I’m not grading you on your napping skills).
Participate in ALL online discussions (when they are assigned).
Complete miscellaneous in-class writing assignments in good faith and effort
Contribute in a meaningful way to your panel discussion
Have faithful attendance (missing less than four classes).
Arrive on time
A failure to do any of these will lower your participation grade. Disruption of class—for
example, carrying on a private discussion or talking on your cell phone during course
proceedings—will result in a participation grade of no higher than a D. Also, not
attending class on the day of your panel will result in a drastically lowered
participation grade, and your final course grade will drop two letters. I will be very
stingy about giving make-ups on this assignment, so don’t get caught off guard.
Grading:
Note: All of the assignments below must be completed in order to pass the course.
“Revolution” Paper (600 words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 points
Explication/Panel Paper (400 words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 points
“Signifying” Paper (1,200 words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 points
Miscellaneous In-Class Writings (800 words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S or U
Mid-term Exam (1,000 words). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 points
Final Exam (1,200 words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200 points
Quizzes/Participation (600 words) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 points
900-1000 points=A
800-899 points=B
700-799 points=C
600-699 points=D
Below 600 points=F
ALL WORK MUST BE COMPLETED IN ORDER TO PASS THE COURSE.
Calendar of Assignments:
Consider this schedule tentative, since these dates might change as the class’s
specific needs become clear. When you are absent, you should contact another
classmate to find out what is due on our following meeting. Failing to do so can
result in being unprepared for class and facing a grade penalty.
1/12: Introductions; explanation of class policies
Lecture/discussion on the Vernacular Tradition
After class: Log-in to ANGEL and participate in the online discussion forum.
1/14: from The Vernacular Tradition:
“The Signifying Monkey” (p.36)
“Sinking of the Titanic” (p. 39)
“Shine and the Titanic” (p. 40)
"All God's Chillen Had Wings" (p. 132)
"How to Write a Letter" (p. 135)
"Ah'll Beatcher Makin' Money" (p. 137)
"Why the Sister in Black Always Works Hardest" (p. 139)
“The Ventriloquist” (p. 140)
"Brer Rabbit Tricks Brer Fox Again" (p. 142)
"The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story" (p. 144)
"How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox" (p. 145)
"The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf" (p.146)
“What the Rabbit Learned” (p. 148)
1/19: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, (pg. 187).
Panel #1
1/21: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (pg. 279)
Panel #2
1/26: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (pgs. 385-417)
Panel #3
1/28: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (pgs. 417-452)
2/2: Due: Revolution Paper
Lecture on the Reconstruction Era
2/4: Up From Slavery (pg. 570)
2/9: The Souls of Black Folk Chap. 1 (pg. 692) and Chap. III (pg. 699)
2/11: “The Goophered Grapevine” (pg. 602)
Panel #4
2/16: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (pgs. 803-849)
Panel #5
2/18: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (pgs. 849-883)
2/23: Mid-term Examination
2/25: Poetry by Hughes (pg. 1291-1311 ); “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain”
(pg. 1311-1314 ); “The Negro Art Hokum” (pg. 1220)
3/2: “Sweat” (pg. 1022) and “The Gilded Six-Bits” (pg. 1033)
Panel #6 (focus on “The Gilded Six-Bits” for your paper)
3/4: Quicksand (hand-out); Panel #7
3/9-3/11: Spring Break!
3/16: “The Man Who Lived Underground” (pg. 1436)
Panel #8
3/18: TBA
3/23: Invisible Man (Prologue-Ch.2)
3/25: Invisible Man (Ch. 3-5)
3/30: Invisible Man (Ch 6-9.)
4/1: Invisible Man (Ch. 10-13)
4/6: Invisible Man (Ch 14-17)
4/8: Invisible Man (Ch.18-21)
4/13: Invisible Man (Ch. 22-24)
4/15: Invisible Man (Ch.25-epilogue)
4/20: Due: Signifying Paper; film and lecture introduction to the Black Arts Movement
(Bring Your Book!!)
4/22: Dutchman (pg. 1946); “The Revolutionary Theatre” (pg. 1960)
4/27: Corregidora (pg 2559); “Rootedness: The Ancestor as Foundation” (pg. 2286)
4/29: “The Education of Mingo” (pg. 2542); “Railroad Bill, a Conjure Man” (pg. 2053);
“Neo-Hoo-Doo Manifesto” (pg. 2062); Review for final exam
Finals Week: 5/3-5/6