Y325 African-Americanpolitics Section 21686
1
SPRING 2008
Y325 – African-AmericanPolitics Section 21686
Room: CA227
TR – 1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
INSTRUCTOR:CONTACT INFO:
Ramla M. Bandele,
Cavanaugh Hall, Rm. 503F274-1463 (ofc phone)
Office Hours: 1-3:30 p.m. Tuesday
or by appointment
Goals:
This class introduces students to the political status, concerns and activism in the U.S. African-American population. There are several goals for this course; the primary goals are to broaden your thinking about the diversity in American politics as well as to clarify the reasons and strategies underlying contemporary African-American politics. Students will acquire comprehension of the following key concepts in African-American politics:
1)African-American politics is complex. While racial degradation and discrimination are two of the principal causes of political activism, the ideological positions and strategies to resolve these problems are not monolithic among the black activists and politicians.
2)Political activism has occurred over centuries and thus is not confined to the Civil Rights era of the 1950-60’s. During enslavement, various strategies were pursued and effective coalition building undergirded the efficacy of black activism. Said activism has tested and permeated most American political movements from populism to communism as well as conservatism.
3)The African-American political arena is growing more culturally diverse,as West Indians, Euro-Africans and continental Africans immigrate to U.S. shores.
4)With growing education and political incorporations and immigration, international activism has evolved over time.
5)African-American political history and activism is but one example of the politics of ethnic groups and resource poor groups struggling for equitable representation and economic parity.
6)When we study the struggles of black people to get political representation and resources, we are simultaneously introduced to the challenges faced by other similarly situated groups.
Finally, students will sharpen their analytical skills by learning to consider race,class, the balance of power and the importance of resource accessibility to their study of politics.
Requirements:
Regular attendance & punctuality are necessary to pass the course. While completing assigned reading is important to understand the material covered, it is also important to hear and participate is lectures and class discussion. Lectures may cover other information and points of view than that of the text. Material from both readings, lectures, guest speakers and any videos/dvds will be covered on exams.
Participation is expected in discussions and in-class exercises. Participation is defined as contributing your views or asking questions during discussions. Every class will begin with a five minute discussion on contemporary politics, especially that involving minorities and women. There also will be formal discussions or debates scheduled throughout the class.
Exams must be successfully completed on the dates scheduled in order to pass this course. Note that exams will not be rescheduled unless the appropriate documentation is presented to justify an absence. An example of appropriate documentation would be a doctor’s statement - in writing- confirming an illness and the need for absence from class. Working overtime, time mismanagement or heavy class loads are not acceptable reasons for missing exams. There will be one make-up exam scheduled later in the semester for those with excused absences.
Research Paper must be completed and turned in on the due date. Your research paper must be concerned with an issue in African American politics. The paper must be 10 pages, double spaced, 12’ font. Margins must be one inch. You must do exactly what the term “research” entails. The Oxford dictionary provides a succinct definition: “the study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.” Students must choose topics that apply to African American politics. The subject matter may re-assess an ongoing disagreement in the discourse, address a controversial issue, answer a topic of interest to you. Examples of topics are on the last page of this syllabus. You must use the assigned book, “Writing a Research Paper in Political Science.” This will assure that you have will write a social sciences paper that is an empirical study that adds to the literature or introduces new ideas or theories.
Do not plagiarize; that is to say, do not use the works of other writers (phrases, paragraphs, chapters.) If you want to quote another writer, you must acknowledge this in the sentence or as an endnote. Plagiarism can lead to serious penalties, including flunking the course and school suspension.
Assessment Procedures:
Your final grade will be determined by yourattendance/class participation, and your written work, including your term paper and exams. Each of these categories will be graded in the following manner:
Class attendance – 25 points
Participation - 25
Exam #1 – 100 points – Mar 3rd
Exam # 2 – 100 points (take home final) Apr 30th
Paper – 100 – Due Apr. 16th
Thus there are a total of 350 points that you will be able to earn. Your final grade will be calculated as follows: 70% = C, 80% for a B, and 90% for an A.
NOTE: Students must let me know about anyreligious holidays for which you plan to request approved absences. Please consult the student handbook with regard to plagiarism and other issues that can impact your grade and university standing. Exam times are final, unless documentation is presented to confirm illness, etc.
TEXTBOOKS REQUIRED:
Baglione, Lisa. Writing a Research Paper in Political Science. Thomson Wadsworth Publishing, 2007
McCartney, John. Black Power Ideologies: An Essay in African American Political Thought. Philadelphia: TempleUniversity Press, 1992
Morris, Aldon. The Origins of the Civil Rights Movement. New York: Free Press, 1984.
Pohlman, Marcus. Black Politics in Conservative America. Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY: Sloan Publishing, 3rd Ed. 2008
Johnson, Valerie. Black Power in the Suburbs. NY: StateUniversity of New York, 2002
Note there are a more articles assigned in the syllabus, such as articles on African Americans and Terrorism; these will be on available on OnCourse or accessible through electronic databases. Guest speakers may also be scheduled; their participation will depend on the schedules of the people invited.
Weekly Schedule
Week 1
Jan 7 – Overview: syllabus, requirements, research paper, participation models.
Jan 9–African origin and antebellum politics
Reading: The Silence in Joseph Ellis Founding Brothers, Chapt. 3
On OnCourse
Week 2
Jan 14– Anbebellum era con’t
Reading: McCartney: Chapt 2 & 3
Jan 16– Reconstruction
Reading: Politics & Economics in Reconstruction Era in Eric Foner
A Short History of Reconstruction
On Oncourse
Week 3
Jan 21 - DR. KING HOLIDAY - NO CLASS
Jan 23 - Jim Crow era in the South and the Industrialized North
Reading: McCartney: Chapt 4 & 5
Week 4
Jan 28 –Relevant Political Theories
Reading: Pohlmann: Chapt 2
Jan 30 – Civil Rights Movement
Reading: Morris: Chapt 1&2
Week 5
Feb 4 – Civil Rights Movement
Reading: Morris: Chapt 3 & 6
Feb. 6 – Civil Rights Movement
Reading: Morris Chapt 7 & 8
Week 6
Feb 11 – Mid 20th Century Ideology and Politics
Reading: McCartney Chapt 6 thru 8
Feb 13 – Mid 20th century con’t
Reading: McCartney 10 & 11
DVD: Shirley Chisholm
Week 7
Feb 18 – Contemporary Politics: Blacks and American Society
Reading: Pohlman Chapt 3 & 4
Feb 20 – Blacks and American Political Institutions
Reading: Pohlman Chapt 7 & 8
Week 8
Feb 25 – Blacks and American Political Institutions con’t
Reading: Pohlman Chapt 6 & 9
Feb 27 – Post-Industrial Political Economy
Reading: Pohlman Chapt 5 & 10
Week 9
Mar 3 – Mid Term Exam
Mar 5 – Affirmative Action
Reading: to be assigned
Week 10 - SPRING BREAK
Week 11 –
Mar 17 - Affirmative Action Debates
Mar 19 – Research Paper outline due – must include at least four sources. These sources must be from academic journals. No websites, no tv.com, NO WIKIPEDIA!
**Bring to my office during class time.**
Week 12
Mar 24 – Black Power in Suburbia
Reading: Johnson Chapt 1 & 2
Mar 26 – Black Power in Suburbia (con’t)
Reading: Johnson Chapt 3 & 4
Week 13
Mar 31 – Black Power in Suburbia
Reading: Johnson Chapt 5 thru 7
Apr 2 – Black Urban Power
Reading: Colburn & Adler African American Mayors
Chapt. 1 & 7 On OnCourse
Week 14
Apr 7 –Pan-Africanism in the African Diaspora
Reading: Ron Walters Chapt 3 & 6 On OnCourse
Visit TransAfrica website
Apr 9 – Reparations
Reading: to be announced
Look at N’COBRA website
Week 15
Apr 14 – Reparations debates on the following questions
Are African Americans due reparations?
How can reparations be considered: in court system? In Congress?
Apr. 16 – African American Politics in Rural Areas
Visit 2 websites: The National Black Farmers Assn & Black Farmers & Agriculturalist Assn.
RESEARCH PAPERS DUE ON APRIL 16TH. NO EXTENSIONS
Week 16
Apr 21 – African Americans face terrorism
Apr 23 – Final exam review – take home exams distributed - DUE MAY 30TH
By 3:00 p.m.