A AFS 219/219Z – Introduction to African/African-American History
University at Albany –Spring 2015
Instructor: Jodi Fernandez
Class: Room 228, Mon-Fri
Office Hours: 2:11-2:45 Mon-Thurs
914-737-0201
Jfernandez1@peekskillcsd.org or
Jfernandez1@peekskillschools.org
Course Description:
This course will survey the cultural and historical background of African Americans from their African
heritage to their present role in American society by focusing on the movements and culture of Africans
and their descendants to places around the world. Students are introduced to literary, religious,
historical, cultural, political, and social topics related to Africa and the African Diaspora with a focus on
the conditions that produced the African Diaspora, the face of Africa around the world, the African
Diaspora in the United States, and a contemporary, global look at the African Diaspora. The purpose of
the course is to enlighten students about the world in which they live as well as themselves. Students
will read a variety of literary works of merit, prepare research papers, write and deliver speeches,
moderate and participate in weekly student-constructed Socratic Seminars, as well as a myriad of other
thought- provoking, academically rigorous activities. This course meets two of the University at Albany’s
General Education categories: Challenges for the 21st Century General Education Requirement as it
addresses a variety of issues focusing on challenges and opportunities in such areas as cultural diversity
and pluralism, science and technology, social interaction, ethics, global citizenship, and others, and may
include interdisciplinary approaches and History as it focuses on specific narratives or themes in the
historical unfolding of the United States, including political, economic, social, cultural and/or intellectual
dimensions.
Learning Objectives:
The general learning goal of the course is to provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their
proficiency in college-level work such as exposure to and critical analysis of literary works of merit,
preparing quality research papers, developing and delivering effective presentations, writing and
delivering persuasive speeches, moderating and participating in weekly student-constructed Socratic
Seminars, and participating in a myriad of other thought- provoking, academically rigorous activities.
As a course that meets the University at Albany’s Challenges for the 21st Century Social Sciences General
Education Objectives, students will be able to demonstrate:

Knowledge and understanding of the historical roots, contemporary manifestations, and
potential future courses of important challenges students may encounter as they move into the
world beyond the university.
A AFS 219/219Z – Introduction to African/African-American History
University at Albany –Spring 2015



Familiarity with these challenges in areas such as cultural diversity and pluralism, science and
technology, social interaction, ethics, global citizenship, and/or others.
An integrated understanding of how challenges often affect individuals and societies
simultaneously in many of these areas.
An appreciation for interdisciplinary approaches to understanding contemporary and future
challenges.
As a course that meets the University at Albany’s General Education History Objectives, students will be
able to demonstrate:




Knowledge of a basic narrative of American history (political, economic, social, and/or cultural),
including an awareness of unity and diversity in American society;
Knowledge of representative institutions in American society and how they have shaped and
been shaped by different groups;
An understanding of the relationship (s) between America and other parts of the world;
An understanding of various tools and approaches used in interpreting U.S. history.
Course Requirements:
Students have the option of taking this course for college credit through SUNY Albany. This course will be run as
a college seminar and, therefore, place a premium on preparation and participation. Our learning community
requires each student's consistent attendance and participation. Come to each class on time, prepared for the
day's activities, and ready to engage in thinking, reading, discussing, listening, and writing. Completing the
readings and being prepared to discuss them are essential for success in this course. The expectation is that all
students will have read and carefully annotated all assigned texts before coming to class. Your active
participation is essential. You are expected to use your time productively and respect the ideas of others. In
addition to daily discussions, you will have several formal writing assignments (research papers, analytic and
creative essays, as well as shorter response papers). Be an ACTIVE PARTICIPANT in your learning… all of it.
Consistent lateness and/or absences will significantly lower your grade in the course. In the event of an
absence, refer to your syllabus. Missing a class does not excuse you from any assigned work, as you will
already know from the syllabus what the assignments are.
The University at Albany expects all members of its community to conduct themselves in a manner
befitting its tradition of honor and integrity. Members are expected to assist the University by reporting
suspected violations of academic integrity to appropriate faculty and/or administrative offices. Behavior
that is detrimental to the University’s role as an educational institution is unacceptable. Claims of
ignorance, of unintentional error, or of academic or personal pressures are not sufficient reasons for
violations of academic integrity.
The following are examples of the types of behaviors that are defined as academic dishonesty and are
therefore unacceptable:
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is presenting as one’s own work the work of another person. It includes
paraphrasing or summarizing without acknowledgment, submission of another student’s work as one’s
A AFS 219/219Z – Introduction to African/African-American History
University at Albany –Spring 2015
own, the purchase of prepared research or completed papers or projects, and the unacknowledged use
of research sources gathered by someone else; Cheating on Examinations: Giving or receiving
unauthorized help before, during, or after an examination; Multiple Submission: Submitting substantial
portions of the same work for credit more than once; Sabotage: Destroying, damaging, or stealing of
another’s work or working materials; Unauthorized Collaboration: Collaborating on projects, papers, or
other academic exercises that is regarded as inappropriate by the instructor(s); Falsification:
Misrepresenting material or fabricating information in an academic exercise or assignment; and Bribery:
Offering or giving any article of value or service to an instructor in an attempt to receive a grade or other
benefits not legitimately earned or not available to other students in the class. Circumventing Security:
Users are prohibited from attempting to circumvent or subvert any system's security measures. Users
are prohibited from using any computer program or device to intercept or decode passwords or similar
access control information. The violations listed above should be reported to the UHS Program Office
immediately. All parties involved will be directed accordingly.
Attendance Policy:
Classroom participation is an integral part of the student’s grade. Therefore, a student will receive credit
for this course by maintaining a minimum of a 65 average and maintaining an acceptable attendance
standing. More than ten (10) absences will result in a grade reduction. For every absence beyond ten,
two points will be deducted from your final grade. This policy does not differentiate between legal
and illegal absences.
Extra Help:
Students should, and are encouraged to, seek extra help if they are experiencing difficulty with the
course work. Extra Help is available during Call Back (2:11-2:45 Monday-Thursday).
Grading:
Everything (including class work, homework, writing assignments, tests, quizzes, class participation and
preparedness) counts towards your grade. Grades will be calculated each marking period on a point
system. Work that is turned in late for any reason will lose credit. For University credit the course is A-E
graded and there are no S/U (pass/fail options).
20%
A= 93-100
C+=78-79
D- = 60-64
A-= 90-92
C= 73-77
E=59 & below (Failure)
B+= 88-89
C-= 70-72
B= 83-87
D+ = 68-69
B- = 80-82
D= 65-67
Major Writing Assignments: This category includes, but is not limited, to short response papers, research
papers, and written speeches, which are graded on thesis creation and defense, specificity and coherence,
mechanics, clear and proper citation.
A AFS 219/219Z – Introduction to African/African-American History
University at Albany –Spring 2015
20%
Examinations: This category encompasses on demand written assessments, formative and summative
assessments, and oral assessments. Examinations will generally be administered in class and consist of
short constructed responses, formal analytical essays, or formal persuasive essays on the interpretation
of our thematic units. These examinations may take one to three class periods to complete. The final
examination is not included in this category as it constitutes 15% of your final grade for the course.
20%
Oral Presentations: This category encompasses chapter talk presentations, oral presentations
and the delivery of a speech.
25%:
Homework and Participation: This category encompasses weekly participation in Socratic
Seminars as well as daily participation in class discussions. Homework will only be assigned as
an extension of the lesson or as preparation for a lesson. Homework may be administered in
the form of reading, written assignments, or both. You will find that completing assignments
outside of class is an integral part of your success or failure in this course.
15%
Final Examination
Concentrations
September: Conditions that Produced the African Diaspora, The Human Family Tree (National
Geographic), Human Movement out of Africa, Things Fall Apart (Chinua Achebe), Chapter Talk
Presentations, Short Response Paper due.
October: African History as it pertains to the Diaspora, Pre-Colonial Africa, Things Fall Apart, Chapter
Talk Presentations, Africa Narrative & Oral Presentation due.
November: Racism’s Historical Roots, The African Slave Trade, Defining Racism (Beverly Daniel Tatum),
On Demand Writing Assessment.
December: The Face of Africa around the World: The African Diaspora of Latin America and the
Caribbean, Film: Black in Latin America, Essay by Tomas Robaina-Fernandez, The Black Diaspora (Ronald
Segal)
January: Ode to the Diasporican, Afro-Latino/Caribbean Research Paper & Presentation, Essay by Dr.
Robert Martinez, Film: Skin, “Desiree’s Baby” (Kate Chopin), Mid-Term.
February: The African Diaspora and the United States: The State of its Beginnings through the Civil
Rights Era, Compare/Contrast Paper: Story to Film, Films: The Book of the Negro, Hidden Colors, Oral
Examination.
March: Reconstruction, Jim Crow, Black Boy (Richard Wright), Black Wall Street Response Paper,
Chapter Talk Presentations.
April: Black Boy, Chapter Talk Presentations, On Demand Writing Assessment.
A AFS 219/219Z – Introduction to African/African-American History
University at Albany –Spring 2015
May: The African Diaspora Today: A Twenty-First Century Look at the Lives of the Descendants of the
Diaspora, The Audacity of Hope (Barack Obama) Films: African-American Lives, Black in America,
Rhetorical analysis paper; speech.
June: The Diaspora Magazine; final examination.
**In addition, we will read a myriad of essays, nonfiction texts, short stories, articles, and personal
accounts.