DEPARTMENT OF AFRICOLOGY
Africology 100-Sec 407: Black Reality
Spring 2012
January 23-May 10
Class Time: TuTh 1:00-1:50
Class Venue: MIT 195
Office Hours: Thursdays 10:30-12:30
Instructor: Prof. Anika Wilson
Office: Mitchell Hall, Rm 215A
Office Phone: (414) 229-2889
Email: awilson@uwm.edu
T.A.: Michael Berkley
Office: Mitchell 370
Office Hrs: Tues2:15-4:15
email: berkleym@uwm.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Our perceptions of reality are structured by forces which are not always obvious to
us in everyday life. In this course we learn about black reality by studying key
historical epochs and events from the perspective of people of African descent. To
understand what has shaped black reality in the United States we must also examine
ideologies, institutions, and policies that have had a profound impact on the
collective identities and prospects of African Americans. We will look beyond the
surface of what seems obvious and natural to see the deeper structures and
processes that create black reality. After all, the forces that have shaped Black
Reality have shaped all our realities.
COURSE GOALS
By the end of the semester you will:
1. Become knowledgeable in the history of the African Diaspora of the United States
2. Understand how concepts of race and persistent inequality have shaped not
only African American lives but also the reality of the United States more
generally.
3. Develop the ability to critically analyze current events from perspective of African
American realities.
4. Identify continuity and diversity in African American social structures and
cultural norms.
COURSE MATERIALS:
Course reading materials available on D2L)
Johnson, Allan. 2006. Privilege, Power, and Difference (Second Edition). Boston, MA:
McGraw Hill. (On D2L)
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Franklin, John Hope and Evelyn Higginbotham. 2011. From Slavery to Freedom: A
History of African Americans. Ninth Edition. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill. (Download
and print from D2L)
Brown, Michael et al. 2003. Whitewashing Race: the Myth of Color-Blind Society
Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. (Download and print from D2L)
And a few others...
The syllabus is subject to change by the instructor.
GRADE COMPONENTS
10% Lecture Attendance
15% Discussion Attendance and Participation
10% Homework Assignments
15% Midterm 1
20% Midterm 2
30% Final Exam
Grade Distribution
A
AB+
B
BC+
100-95%
94-92%
91-88%
87-84%
83-81%
80-78%
C
CD+
D
DF
77-74%
73-71%
70-68%
67-64%
63-61%
<61% and below
ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. If you miss class you must find a way to get
the lecture notes from a fellow classmate. I do not give out lecture notes.
Powerpoint slides are not equivalent to the material covered in class. Two absences
from lecture will be excused with no questions asked. One absence from discussion
will be excused with no further questions. Each absence beyond these will result in a
drop in your final grade such that an A becomes and A-, a B+ becomes a B, etc.
Midterms and final exam: There are two midterms and a cumulative final exam.
They consist of short answer, essay, and matching questions.
Discussion Sessions: Participation is required even if you are shy. To fully
participate you need to print the reading materials and bring them to class.
Participation consists of being prepared by reading and completing the homework
assignment in order to contribute knowledge-based comments and questions in
class. Opinions are not the same as evidence-based analysis and commentary.
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Homework: Homework is to be handed in to your T.A. at discussion section as a
hard copy. Late work is not accepted.
ACADEMIC POLICY
Religious Observances, Disabilities, Military Duty, etc.
University Policies governing the following issues: students with disabilities,
religious observances, students called to active military duty, incompletes,
discriminatory conduct, academic misconduct (i.e. cheating or plagiarism),
complaint procedures, grade appeal procedures, and final examination policies can
be accessed through the web address below:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/SyllabusLinks.pdf
If you have concerns regarding these issues do not hesitate to look up this
information online. I encourage you to contact me early if you have compelling
reasons for the re-scheduling of assignments and tests according to University
policy.
Students with disabilities should contact the Student Accessibility Center in order
to formulate an accommodation plan. You will need to talk to me, the instructor,
during the first three weeks of class. The information you share is confidential. For
more information see:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/DSAD/SAC/SACltr.pdf
Please act immediately to get the process rolling.
Academic Misconduct: Academic misconduct refers to cheating on tests,
homework, quizzes, and in-class assignments by taking credit for work that is not
your own. Academic misconduct will result in the failure of the particular
assignment or potential expulsion from the course altogether. For more on the
University’s regulations regarding academic misconduct please see:
http://www4.uwm.edu/acad_aff/policy/academicmisconduct.cfm
Don’t cheat! You’re smarter than that.
Classroom Conduct: Using cell phones, surfing the Internet, and listening to music
during class time are prohibited. You will be asked to leave the class if you choose to
engage in these activities. Respect one another and respect yourself by taking
advantage of your learning opportunities.
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COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1 Introduction
i. Tues. Jan. 24 Course Introduction
ii. Thurs. Jan. 26
Johnson, Allan. Introduction, Chapters 1 & 2 (Pp. 1-40)
iii. Discussion
Week 2 Social Construction of Race (Concepts)
i. Tues. Jan. 31
Film: Race the Power of an Illusion, Part 1
ii. Thurs. Feb. 2
Johnson, Allan. Privilege, Power, and Difference (Pp. 41-107)
iii. Discussion
Week 3 The Creation of the African Diaspora (History)
i. Tues. Feb. 7
Franklin and Higginbotham. Chapter 1 Ancestral Africa (Pp. 1-20)
ii. Thurs. Feb. 9
Franklin and Higginbotham. Chapter 2 Africans in the Atlantic World (Pp. 22-45)
iii. Discussion
Week 4: Slavery in the United States (History)
i. Tues. Feb. 14
Franklin and Higginbotham. Chapter 3 Establishing North American slaves (Pp. 4762)
ii. Thurs. Feb. 16
Franklin and Higginbotham. Chapter 4 Eighteenth century Slave Societies (Pp. 6482)
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Friday, Feb. 17 LAST DAY WITH DROP WITHOUT “W” ON RECORD
iii. Discussion
Week 5 Fighting to end slavery (History)
i. Tues. Feb. 21
Franklin and Higginbotham Chapter 9 Abolitionism in Black and White (Pp. 184207)
ii. Thurs. Feb. 23
Franklin and Higginbotham Chapter 10 Civil War (Pp. 208-233)
Film excerpts from PBS Slavery and the Making of America
iii. Discussion
Week 6 Does the End of slavery equal freedom? (History)
i. Tues. Feb. 28
Franklin and Higginbotham Chapter 11 Promises and Pitfalls of Reconstruction (Pp.
235-259)
ii. Thurs. Mar. 1 Midterm 1
iii. Discussion
Week 7 Post-slavery Adaptations (History)
i. Tues. Mar. 6
Franklin and Higginbotham Chapter 12 the Color Line (Pp. 260-286)
ii. Thurs. Mar. 8
Franklin and Higginbotham Chapter 13 The Era of Self-Help (Pp. 287-324)
iii. Discussion
Week 8 Political Organization, Black Nationalism, Pan-Africanism (History)
i. Tues. Mar. 13
Franklin and Higginbotham Chapter 15 Voices of Protest
Film: Goin’ to Chicago
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ii. Thurs. Mar. 15
Franklin and Higginbotham Chapter 19 American Dilemmas (Pp. 473-508)
iii. Discussion
LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW:
SPRING RECESS Mar. 18-25
Week 9 Civil Rights and Black Power (History)
i. Tues. Mar. 27
Franklin and Higginbotham Chapter 20 We Shall Overcome (Pp. 510-547)
ii. Thurs. Mar. 29
Franklin and Higginbotham Chapter 21 Black Power (Pp. 549-579)
iii. Discussion
Week 10 State of African American Social Institutions (Social
Structures/Current Events)
i. Tues. Apr. 3
Brown et al. Introduction: “Race Preferences and Race Privileges” (Pp. 1-33)
ii. Thurs. Apr. 5
iii. Discussion
Week 11 Privilege in Action (Social Structures/Current Events)
i. Tues. Apr. 10
Brown et al. Chapter 2 “The Bankruptcy of Virtuous Markets: Race Inequality,
Poverty, and Individual Failure” (Pp. 66-103)
ii. Thurs. Apr. 12
Film: Race, The Power of an Illusion, Part 2
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iii. Discussion
Week 12 Wealth, Education, and Inequality (Social Structures/Current Events)
i. Tues. Apr. 17 Bronzeville, Re-segregation, Joblessness
ii. Thurs. Apr. 19 Chapter 3 “Keeping Blacks in Their Place: Race, Education, and
Testing” (Pp. 104-131)
iii. Discussion
Week 13
i. Tues. Apr. 24 Midterm 2
ii. Thurs. Apr. 26 Film: TBA
iii. Discussion
Week 14 Prison Industrial Complex (Social Structures/Current Events)
i. Tues. 1 May Brown et al. Chapter 4 “Been in the Pen So Long: Race, Crime, and
Justice” (Pp. 132-160) or excerpt from Michelle Alexander The New Jim Crow: Mass
Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
ii. Thurs. May 3
iii. Discussion
Week 15 Making a Difference?
i. Tues. May 8 Johnson, Allan Chapter 8 & 9 (Pp. 108-153)
ii. Thurs. May 10 Last Day of Class
Final Exam Review
iii. No Discussion
Final Cumulative Exam: Saturday, May 12 from 10-12, Mitchel 195
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