Introduction to African
American Studies
Africans in America
Definition
 “ . . . A field of study that systematically
treats the past and present experiences,
characteristics, achievements, issues and
problems of Black citizens of the United
States who are of African origin and
background.”
It is . . .








Dialectic
Interdisciplinary
Contextual
Evolving
Dynamic
Wholistic
African
American
Course Breakdown
 Purpose
 Initiation and Development of African American
Studies
 History of Africans in America
 Sociology
 Black Psychology
 Politics
 Economic
 Arts and Humanities
Purpose
 Why
Foundation




Philosophy
Culture
Aesthetics
Historical
– Slavery
– Racism
– Separatism
– Desegregation
– Black Power
– Black Art
– Black Capitalism
– Black Nationalism
– Education
Some Key Players
 David Walker
– (1785-1830)
 Phillis Wheatley
– (1753-1784)
 Maria Stewart
– (1803-1879)
 Henry Highland Garnet
– (1815-1882)
 Frederick Douglass
– (1817-1895)
 William Edward
Burghardt DuBois
– (1868-1963)
 Booker T Washington
– (1856-1915)
 Carter G Woodson
– (1875-1950)
 E Franklin Frazier
– (1894-1962)
 Charles S Johnson
– (1893-1956)
 Alain Leroy Locke
– (1886-1954)
 Marcus Garvey
– (1887-1940)
Booker T. Washington
1856-1915
Born a slave in 1856 in
Virginia he was
provisionally allowed to
enroll in Hampton
Institute.
He turned out to be an
extraordinary student and
speaker.
The principle of the institute
recommended that he
start his own school
which he did.
It became known as
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/aopart6.html Tuskegee Institute.
Anna Julia Cooper
 “Women's Cause is
One and Universal”
http://www.blackpast.org/files/blackpast_images/cooper_anna.jpg
Ida B Wells Barnett
http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-04/37477739.jpg
Mary Church Terrell
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASterrell.jpg
W E B DuBois
1868-1963
 Born in Great Barrington,
MA he became a social
scientist, social activist,
and political philosopher.
 He received his PhD from
Harvard University and
used “scientific method”
to understand the
development, nature and
contributions of the Black
community.
 He was one of the
founders of the NAACP.
Carter G. Woodson
1875-1950
 This native of Virginia was
born to parents who were
slaves at one time.
 The father of Black history.
 He was instrumental in
reestablishing the importance
of black history and “he
provided the philosophical
basis and rationale for Black
intellectual and educational
independence.”
 He initiated Negro History
Week in 1926.
Alain Leroy Locke
1886-1954
 Born in Philadelphia, PA
he was the first Black
Rhodes scholar.
 He received his PhD from
Harvard in 1918.
 He was an educator and
philosopher who laid a lot
of the the theoretical
ground work for African
American studies.
 He is also noted for being
one of the interpreters of
the Harlem Renaissance.
Marcus Garvey
1887-1940
 Born in the Jamaica, West
Indies he became a strong
proponent of Black
Nationalism and of a
Black Nation.
 He instilled pride in
Blacks and encouraged
them to fight racism.
 He successfully started a
black shipping line.
 He accentuated Black
achievement which rival
http://www.isop.ucla.edu/mgpp/photo01.htm achievement of others
ethnic groups.
Zora Neale Hurston
 Born in 1891?
 One of America’s
most prolific writers
http://www4.wittenberg.edu/student_organizations/greek/alpha_phi_alpha/zpb3.jpg
Charles S. Johnson
1893-1956
 Born in Bristol, VA this
sociologist was the first
Black president of Fisk
University.
 He applied good research
methodology and analysis
in understanding African
Americans.
 He used his analysis and
findings to demonstrate
the destructiveness of
racism on Blacks.
http://www.britannica.com/blackhistory/micro/305/29.html
E. Franklin Frazier
1894-1962
 Born in Baltimore, MD
Frazier became the
leading authority of Black
family life.
 His work Black
Bourgeoisie caused quite
a stir in the African
American community
because of it’s depiction
of middle class Blacks”
 He was an integrationist
and assimilationist.
http://138.238.113.55/EFFC_1.html
David Walker
1785-1830
 Born in 1785 in
Wilmington, NC
 Author, abolitionist,
activist.
 Tailor by trade ‘an
abolitionist by calling.’
 Moved to Boston in 1827.
 Wrote “David Walker’s
Appeal.”
 Advocated violence to end
slavery.
Phillis Wheatley
1753-1784

http://www.ktca.org/litandlife/chapters/chapt
er1main.html
 Poet born in Africa in
1753.
 Was purchased by
Susannah Wheatley of
Boston.
 She was educated by her
“mistress.”
 She mastered Greek and
became a poet
“extraordinaire.”
 She eventually married a
free black man by the
name of John Peters.
Maria Stewart
1803-1879
 Born in Hartford, CT
was orphaned at 5.
 Despite her limited
education she became
a leading exponent of
abolishing slavery and
women’s rights.
Henry Highland Garnet
1815-1882
 Born a slave in Maryland,
escaped with parents and
moved to Penn in 1824.
 Graduated from Oneida
institute and became an
“outstanding scholar minister,
writer, and educator.”
 On one hand he believed in
America, and the principles of
the Constitution and recruited
for the Civil War.
 On the other hand he opposed
whites and rejected democratic
materialism.
 Represents “double
consciousness.”
Frederick Douglass
1817-1895
 Born into slavery and
escaped in 1838.
 Abolitionist who
embraced integration.
 Was an articulate
spokesperson for African
America rights.
 Considered a black
“philosopher and
ideologist.”