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And Still We Rise . . .
African-American History Since Reconstruction 1877 History 3441
Fall 2014
Monday/Wednesday 1:00-2:15 p.m.
Allgood Hall, Room E258
August 18, 2014
Instructor: Dr. Perzavia Praylow
Office Hours: Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Office: E213 Allgood Hall Office Phone: 706-667-4564
Email: [email protected]
COURSE DESCRIPTION
History 3441-African American traces the African American experience from The Civil War through the
second term election of President Barak Obama. This course uses readings, class lectures, popular media and
classroom discussion to offer a broad, yet critical, introduction to major currents in African American history.
The course is organized under three guiding parts: Part 1: The Civil War, Emancipation and Black
Reconstruction; Part 2: Searching for Safe Places: World wars, Depression and Racial Oppression;
Part 3: Civil Rights and the Black Revolution; and Part 4: Africans Americans in the Era of Change,
The New Century & The Age of Obama. In addition to the four organizational topics mentioned, significant
attention is given to gender dynamics, activism/resistance, community, and culture. We will also be attuned to
the salient contributions of African Americans in shaping America; as well as understanding how the
intersections of race, power, gender, region, and class shaped the African American experience. In every
instance we will build our foundation on course readings and assignments in order to increase our knowledge
of prominent themes, moments of change, and key players in the creation of African American history.
OBJECTIVES
*To trace the socio-historical experiences of African American people from the Civil War through the Present.
*To study the economic, political, social and cultural processes by which diverse African ethnic
groups became African American.
*To study the interaction between the changing U.S. political economy, the federal government
cultural representations, and African American self-activity.
*To study the experiences, contributions and perspectives of individual African American
women and men across class, nationality, generation and ideological lines.
*To analyze the ideologies, strategies, and tactics of the Black Liberation movement from 1619
to the present.
*To examine the social, cultural, political and economic interactions between African Americans
and other people of color from 1861 to the present.
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OBJECTIVES, continued
*To help students develop a sense of “historical insight” or what is possible and probable in the
future by helping them to understand patterns of historical development and emerging trends.
*To teach students the basic skills of historical investigation and narration by a) teaching them to
understand the difference between primary and secondary sources; b) teaching them how to
select, organize and synthesize source materials; c) teaching them how to interpret the
meaning(s) of the source materials; and d) teaching them how to construct an oral and written
argument that logically uses evidence to support a thesis.
*To introduce students to the empirical nature of history and the importance of different
theoretical explanations in historical interpretation.
REQUIRED TEXTS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY AUTHOR)
Please purchase a copy of the required course books. Please make sure that you purchase the correct
volume/edition. Students are required to have the correct volume/edition of the following books:
Deborah Grey-White etc. Freedom n My Mind: A History of African Americans with Documents, Volume
Two: Since 1865. Bedford St. Martin’s Press, 2012.
History 3441-- Course Packet (CP) is available via D2L/Desire 2 Learn.
Recommended Texts:
Students are encouraged to purchase a writing guide to assist them with their course papers. The
following writers manual is recommended:
Robert Frakes, Writing for College History, Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.
ALL REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON RESERVE AT THE
REESE LIBRARY.
TEACHING METHODS:
Lecture
Critical Dialogue
Multi-Media Presentations
Group Discussion
COURSE EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to arrive to class on time.
Students are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct and the Academic Honesty Policy
Students are expected to participate and to be attentive in class.
Students are expected to complete all reading and writing assignments.
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PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism and cheating of any sort will not be tolerated and are against University policy. Plagiarism is
defined as, “the appropriation or imitation of the language, ideas and thoughts of another author and
representation of them as one’s original work.” Also be mindful that only correct and thorough citation of
evidence can be counted as referencing material. Please understand and adhere to the Academic Honesty
Policy in the Student Catalog.
THE WRITING CENTER
The mission of the Writing Center is to help students become better writers. By offering free peer
consultations to guide students through the writing process, the staff empowers students to make well-
informed decisions about their texts. The GRU Writing Center supports student writers by providing them
with one-on-one writing consultations. The Writing Center is governed by the following assumptions:
Every student has a unique learning style and benefits from individualized writing instruction.
Every student can sharpen his or her writing skills with hard work and practice.
Good writing and communication skills are necessary for academic success, regardless of discipline.
Their phone number is 706-737-1402. The website for the Writing Center can be found at
http://www.gru.edu/colleges/pamplin/writingcenter/. The hours of operation are Monday – Thursday
8:00am-8:00pm and Friday 8:00am-1:00pm.
TESTING AND DISSABILITY SERVICES: To insure that disability-related concerns are properly addressed, students with disabilities who require
assistance should contact the instructor as soon as possible. You should also contact the department of Testing
and Disability Services located in Galloway Hall. Their phone number is 706-737-1469. The website for
Testing and Disability Services can be found at http://www.gru.edu/admin/tds/. The hours of operation are
Monday – Friday 8:00am-4:30pm.
THE COUNSELING CENTER
The Counseling Center provides free individual counseling services to currently enrolled GRU students and
GRU employees using a brief counseling model for short term counseling. Brief counseling is often effective
for common issues faced by college students and employees, and using this model allows us to serve a greater
number of clients with our available resources. Most clients attend about 4 to 5 sessions. The Center provides
up to 12 individual 50 minute sessions per 12 month period for clients who will not be better served by an off-
campus referral for more long-term, intensive counseling or specialized psychiatric care. Clients identified as
needing a referral will be assisted with locating an appropriate off-campus mental health provider. Their phone
number is 706-737-1471. The website for the Counseling Center can be found at
http://www.gru.edu/admin/counseling/. The hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8:00am-4:30pm.
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GENERAL POLICIES:
Throughout this semester, we will work collaboratively to understand the complexities of the ideas presented
in course readings and in class discussions. The material covered in this course at times can be sensitive and
students should respect the opinions of their colleagues during class discussions. As such, please be
considerate of the views of others. Though every voice is important, it is just as important to express
viewpoints in relationship to course material. Also, please note the following:
The instructor does not post lecture notes or power point presentations on D2L.
The instructor does not email lecture notes or power point presentations to students.
Failure to hand in assignments may result in failure of the class.
Papers and other written assignments are not accepted via email.
Grades will not be given out via email at the end of the semester.
Please turn off cell phones, portable computers and other electronic devices or consult instructor.
Web-surfing and communication via text-messaging and cell-phones are prohibited.
NOTES ON TECHNOLOGY:
The lecture and discussion content of this course is the intellectual property of the instructor. As such, the use
of tape recorders, cell phones and other methods of recording are prohibited unless arrangements have been
made with Testing and Disability Services and the Instructor.
Email & Communication:
Email is not a substitute for office hours. The instructor is an advocate of contact with students during office
hours. Email will be used to alert class members to schedule changes, announcements for lectures on campus,
or any other miscellaneous issues that relate to the course. Please be courteous over email and try to save
questions for class discussions so that everyone can benefit from the response. Assignments are not accepted
via email. The instructor will answer email as soon as possible between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Unless instructed differently, please address the instructor as Prof. Praylow or Dr. Praylow in both email and
face to face communication.
Desire 2 Learn:
In this course, Desire 2 Learn (D2L) --a course management system-- will be used primarily to track student
academic progress throughout the semester. In addition to being distributed in class, description of
assignments will be posted to D2L. Also, you will be able to print a copy of the syllabus should you lose the
original. Helpful student resources and websites have also been posted to the main D2L webpage for this
course. Please do not use discussion boards to voice your personal concerns with your colleagues or the
instructor. Please speak with the instructor directly. Use this space to encourage a healthy academic dialogue.
The instructor reserves the right to dismantle the discussion board function if it is contributing to a hostile
learning environment. Finally, in addition to email, Desire 2 Learn will be used to alert class members of
schedule changes and other important issues related to this course. Students will also be required to complete
assignments online with Desire 2 Learn as noted in the reading/assignments schedule at the end of the syllabus
or as stated in class. Specifically, students will be required to post written assignments as indicated.
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REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING POLICY
I. Requirement Percentage Points & Due Dates
The final grading policy for this course consists of letter grades. However, assignments and
exams are based on a percentage system with an overall course total of 100 points or 100 percent.
Requirement Percentage Points Due Date
Participation (Discussion & Assignments) 15% Ongoing
Critical Issues Peer Presentation 5% TBA-Based on Presentation Date
Quizzes 10% On Going
Midterm Exam 25% Wednesday, October 1
African American History Research Paper 10% Friday, December 5
Final Exam 35% TBA, December 8-12
II. Description of Course Requirements: Learning is an interactive process and every classroom encounter is potentially a “teachable moment.” The
instructor’s purpose is not only to transmit information and knowledge, but also to facilitate learning. This involves
encouraging students to share the knowledge they bring to the classroom, make the subject matter relevant to their
own experiences, and essentially “find their voice.” Class meetings will therefore alternate between formal lectures
delivered by the instructor and informal classroom discussions. Class lectures will also incorporate other means of
instruction and learning. Please keep all copies of papers and exams until after your final grade has been posted.
To succeed in this course, it is vitally important that you attend weekly lectures, complete all assigned readings and
writing assignments and actively participate in discussion. Prof. Praylow will use the weekly lectures to provide
you with her analysis of important themes and events in American History. The weekly topics covered in lecture
will be used to guide participation and discussion. Through discussion, students will talk to the course instructor
and each other about lecture, readings, papers and assignments. The weekly lectures and discussions will prepare
you to successfully complete all assignments.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory and students are expected to attend each class session. However, throughout the semester,
you can miss no more than 2 class sessions without penalty. Every absence after 2 automatically deducts 3 points
from your final grade. For example, if you miss 4 total absences, that would subtract 6 points from your final
grade. In this course, I do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences except in rare cases related to
death or a long term illness. This policy is not flexible. For every class that you miss beyond 2 class sessions,
your final grade point average will be deducted by 3 points. Please use discretion when you are absent from class.
Attendance will be recorded.
6 Participation
Regular engaged participation in this is course expected. You should be an active member of the class. I will
make notes throughout the semester on who made “good” comments in the course. Speaking for the sake of
speaking does not necessarily show critical student participation. Students should draw from their understanding of
assigned course reading when make contributions to discussion. Participation also includes completing required
homework assignments announced in class. Participation counts as 15% of your course grade.
Pop Quizzes/Scheduled Quizzes Short quizzes will be given in class or via D2L to evaluate your consistent reading and understanding of assigned course
content. These quizzes are worth 10% of your overall grade. The quizzes will consist of short answer identifications
(who, what, when, where, why, and significance), multiple choice questions and/or short essays. Quizzes may or may
not be announced in class.
Contemporary Issues in the Black Experience Group Research Presentation:
With the exception of weeks when you have a test or paper due, students will lead a discussion based on the assigned
article and contemporary issues on the Black Experience. Students will be divided into teams of 4-5 students. Student
groups are responsible for making a presentation to the class on the assigned article/issue. Presentations are meant to
enhance everyone’s reading of the article/issue, not replace it. Every student is responsible for doing all assigned
readings. The peer presentation counts as 5% (5 points) of your final grade. A successful presentation includes
participation from students in the assigned group and should engage the class in discussion.
The presentation should be no less than 50 minutes. You can be as creative as you like using images, power point slides,
film or music clips to highlight points put forth in the article. However, you cannot show a film or play music for the
entire class and have that count as your presentation. At a minimum you are required to do the following:
• Provide the class with an outline of key ideas in the article (think of this as a study guide)
• Highlight important people, places or concepts discussed in the article
• Provide 3 discussion questions linking your presentation with the required reading for the week
• Provide the complete bibliographic information for any work that your presentation draws from
Dr. Praylow will meet with each group to assist them in planning a lesson plan.
Presentation Dates:
Monday, November 3
Wednesday, November 5
Monday, November 10
Wednesday, November 12
Monday, November 17
Wednesday, November 19
Midterm and Final Examinations:
You will take two examinations in this class: a mid-term and a final examination. The mid-term will cover all readings,
lectures and discussions through 1948 (the end of WWII). The mid-term is worth 25% of your final course grade. You
will have the entire class time to take the exam. However, if you show up more than 10 minutes late you forfeit your
opportunity to take the exam. The final examination will test your knowledge of all readings, lectures and discussions on
the period in African American history since 1947 (the end of WWII-present). Though the final exam will specifically
focus on material after 1947, it will benefit you to review material from earlier in the semester as a portion of the exam
will be cumulative. The final examination is worth 35% of your final course grade. Both the mid-term and final
examination will consist of multiple choice, short answer, essay and historical identification questions. You may also be
required to write an essay response to at least one or more major course theme/question.
Examination Dates:
Midterm Exam - Monday, October 1 Final Exam – TBA, Dec 8-12 (Monday-Friday)
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African American History Research Paper
Each student will be required to write 10-12 page research paper on any topic related to the history of African
American life and culture during the time period of 1877-Presents. Research paper topics must be approved
by Dr. Praylow. The African American History Research papers accounts for 10% of your overall grade
average. Each student is required to research and write their paper independently.
Extra Credit Policy:
Students will be allowed to receive up to a maximum of 2 points in extra credit by attending academically
related events outside of the class and completing a written analysis of that event. Each extra credit
assignment is worth 1 percentage point towards your final grade. For extra credit, please attend approved
events only. The instructor will announce approved extra credit events in class. Approved events may be
sponsored by the History, Philosophy and Anthropology Department, Gender & Women Studies or other
departments throughout the GRU campus.
For extra credit events attended, please write a 3 page reflective response paper related to the themes of the
course. Additionally, please answer the following question: How does this lecture/event/discussion relate to
the American experience? Please support your reflective response with cited arguments from any of the
assigned readings including the main course textbook by Deborah Gray White – Freedom on My Mind: A
History Of African Americans. Finally, extra credit papers are due no later than one week after the extra credit
event is attended.
III. Grading Policy
The final grading policy for this course consists of letter grades. Assignments and exams are based on a
percentage system with an overall course total of 100 %. Your course grade will be reflected in how you
perform on quizzes, your exams, all written assignments and your frequency of attendance. Examinations will
be drawn from lectures, assigned readings, discussions, films, and any other assignments.
In general, late papers and assignments, without prior approval from the instructor, will not be accepted. All
absences from an exam/assignment deadline which the instructor has not consented to within 72 hours before
the designated time of the exam/deadline, will result in a “0” for that assignment. The instructor must
approve requests for make-up exams and extensions 72 hours in advance of the scheduled assignment.
Please keep all assignments and papers until the final course grade is posted at the Registrar’s office.
Cheating, plagiarism (of another’s work), and self-plagiarism will serve as grounds for dismissal from class.
Grade appeals must be submitted in writing 48 hours after the student received the results of their assignment.
This ensures that they carefully read the comments prepared by the instructor. Once they have read and
considered the comments, students can present an explanation for a re-grade. Students who wish to appeal
their grade must do so within one week after the assignment was returned and must also submit the original
paper, test or assignment with the written appeal. Appeals that do not follow these criteria will not be
considered.
Grade Scale: The following grading scale will be employed in this class.
A: 90-100 B: 80-89 C: 70-79 D: 60-69 F: Below 60
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IV. SCHEDULE OF READINGS & WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
(Readings should be read in the order in which they are listed. All assignments are due on the day on which they are
listed. This syllabus is subject to change in order to allow flexibility for the students’ reading and writing assignments.
The instructor will provide advanced notice of changes.)
Date Discussion/Lecture Topic Text Chapters/Pages
Part 1: The Civil War,
Emancipation and Black
Reconstruction
August 18
(Monday)
Syllabus Overview
August 20
(Wednesday) Lecture/Discussion
“The Civil War: The End of Slavery
or the Preservation of the Union”
Overview of Guidelines on Peer
Presentation
Peer Presentation Sign-Up
August 25
(Monday)
Lecture/Discussion
“The Promises of Reconstruction”
Gray-White
Ch. 8: Reconstructing:
The Making and
Unmaking of a
Revolution, 1865-1970,
pgs. 376-400
August 27
(Wednesday)
Lecture/Discussion
“The Failures of Reconstruction”
Ch. 8: pgs. 390-408
& pgs. 401-429.
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Date Discussion/Lecture Topic Text Chapters/Pages
Part 2: Searching for Safe
Places: World wars,
Depression and Racial
Oppression
September 1 (Monday)
Lecture/Discussion
“The Rise of Jim Crow ”
Gray-White
Ch. 9: Black Life and
Culture 1880-1915,
pgs. 430-460
September 3
(Wednesday)
Lecture/Discussion
“Responding to Jim Crow:
Accommodation and Protest”
Gray-White
Ch. 9: pgs. 461-491.
September 8
(Monday)
Lecture/Discussion
“Black Life at The Turn of the
Century: Migration, WWI & The
New Negro”
Gray-White
Ch. 10: The New Negro,
1915-1940, pgs. 492-520
& 528-533.
September 10
(Wednesday)
Lecture/Discussion
“Responding to Jim Crow:
Accommodation and Protest”
Gray-White
Ch. 10: pgs. 521-549.
September 15
(Monday)
Lecture/Discussion
“African Americans and the Fight for
Freedom Abroad”
Gray-White
Ch. 11: Fighting for a
Double Victory, 1939-
1948, pgs. 550-577.
September 17
(Wednesday)
Lecture/Discussion
“African Americans and the Fight for
Freedom at Home”
Primary Document & Visual Analysis
Discussion
Gray-White
Ch. 11: pgs. 578-603.
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September 22
(Monday)
Lecture/Discussion
“The Post War Civil Rights Movement, Part 1”
Gray-White
Ch. 12: The Early Civil
Rights Movement, 1947-
1963, pgs. 604-631.
September 24
(Wednesday)
Lecture/Discussion
“The Civil Rights Movement as a National Movement”
Midterm Review
Gray-White
Ch. 12: pgs. 632-661.
September 29
(Monday)
Midterm Review
October 1
(Wednesday)
Midterm Exam
October 6
(Monday)
Library Research
Instruction/Consultation
October 8
(Wednesday)
No Class--
Individual Student Research
in the Library. Sign In @
Special Collections
Part 3: Civil Rights and the
Black Revolution
October 13
(Monday)
Lecture/Discussion
“The Struggle Continues: The Emergence of Black Power”
Gray-White
Ch. 13: Multiple
Meanings of Freedom:
The Movement Broadens,
1963-1975, pgs. 662-690.
October 15
(Wednesday)
Lecture/Discussion
“Multiple Meanings of Freedom: Economic Justice, Affirmative Action and Anti-War and Urban Radicalism”
Gray-White
Ch. 13: pgs. 690-719.
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Part 4: Africans Americans
in the Era of Change, The
New Century & The Age of
Obama
October 20
(Monday)
Lecture/Discussion
“Opposition to the Black Freedom Movement”
Gray-White
Ch. 14: The Challenge of
Conservatism in an Era of
Change, 1968-2000, pgs.
720-747.
October 22
(Wednesday)
Lecture/Discussion
“The Persistence of the Black Freedom Struggle at the End of the Century”
Gray-White
Ch. 14: pgs. 748-773
October 27
(Monday)
No Class--
Individual Student Research
in the Library. Sign In @
Special Collections
No Assigned Reading
October 29
(Wednesday)
Lecture/Discussion
No Class--
Research Paper Consultations
No Assigned Reading
November 3
(Monday)
Contemporary Issues
in the Black Experience
Group Research Presentation #1
Reading TBA
D2L
November 5
(Wednesday)
Contemporary Issues
in the Black Experience
Group Research Presentation #2
Reading TBA
D2L
November 10
(Monday)
Contemporary Issues
in the Black Experience
Group Research Presentation #3
Reading TBA
D2L
November 12
(Wednesday)
Contemporary Issues
in the Black Experience
Group Research Presentation #4
Reading TBA
D2L
12
November 17
(Monday)
Contemporary Issues
in the Black Experience
Group Research Presentation #5
Reading TBA
D2L
November 19
(Wednesday)
Contemporary Issues
in the Black Experience
Group Research Presentation #6
Reading TBA
D2L
November 24
(Monday)
No Class—
Individual Student
Research Paper
Consultations
November 26
(Wednesday)
No Class. Thanksgiving Holiday
December 1
(Monday)
“Blackness & New Categories of Difference”
“The Carceral State or the New Jim Crow”
Final Exam Review
Gray-White Ch. 15: African
Americans and the New
Century 2000-Present,
pgs. 774-803.
December 3
(Wednesday)
“Black Life in the Age of Obama and Beyond”
Final Exam Review
Gray-White Ch. 15: pgs. 804-832.
Friday,
December 5
African American History
Research Paper Due
December 8-
December 12
(Monday-
Friday)
Final Exam
TBA
(Monday, December 8-
Friday, December 12)
