ID 10:  INTRODUCTION TO BLACK STUDIES
The Claremont Colleges
Professor Halford H. Fairchild

Texts:        My Life in Search of Africa by John Henrik Clarke
                Black Studies:  Theory, Method & Cultural Perspectives (Anderson)

Course Syllabus – Spring 2004

1-20-04    Introduction and Course Overview
1-22-04    Habits of Mind

1-27-04    How to Build a Website
1-29-04    How to Build a Website - Book Review Due (Clarke)

Students' Websites are to be linked here:
Jason Allen
Jed Grobstein
Ryan Johnson's Home Page; Ryan Johnson's Black Studies Page
Salima Lemelle
Kelly Lewis
Chanta Lobin-Thomas (Scripps College)
Susannah Welch

2-3-04        Theoretical Perspectives (Section 1, pp. 1-10)
2-5-04        Mitochondrial Eve (The origen of the species)

Mitochondrial Eve:  Fact or Fiction?
Mitochondrial Eve as the "First" Human who gave birth to all others.
1:  Describes the idea of ME as a mathematical "fact," and other technicals
2:  ME was not sole living female of the day.  Discusses 'out-of-Africa' thesis
and "Y-chromosome Adam"
3:  Gives technical background on Mitochondrial DNA.  Excellent summation
of the Mitochondrial Eve thesis.
 1       2       3
Debates about the validity of the data on Mitochondrial Eve
1:  ME is a myth.  Biblical Eve lived 6,500 years ago.
2:  The "demise" of ME
 1       2      
A Discussion
Mitochondrial Eve research demonstrates, rather conclusively, that the origen of the human species was in Africa.  We are all descendents of the same original human beings.  It was before the time predicted in the Bible.  

So what?

The so what is simple, yet profound.  As far as humans on this planet are concerned, "We are FAMILY!"  The implications of this fact -- for understanding and undoing -- racism, sexism, and war, are readily apparent.



2-10-04    Methodology (Section 2, pp. 11-42)
2-12-04    African Civilizations

Ancient African Civilizations
This link gives an excellent listing of several ancient African civilizations, with an emphasis on Egypt.
 http://www.homestead.com/wysinger/ancientafrica.html



African Civilizations:  Search Topics
Great Zimbabwe (Dante, Thea)
Mansa Musa (Kamau)

2-17-04    Historiographies (Section 3, pp. 43-76)
2-19-04    Human Migration and Differentiation
Search Topics:
Out of Africa (human migration) - Adaeze
The Moors (Jed, Dante)
2-24-04    Sociological Perspectives (Section 4, pp. 77-109)
2-26-04    Colonialism
Search Topics:
Africa (North, West, East, South) (Susannah, Jed)
Colonizers (British, French, Dutch, Portuguese, German, Belgian Italian, Spanish)
New Woirld (Kelly)
The South Pacific (New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Islands)
Caribbean (Daniel)
Brazil (Ryan)

Decolonization and Frantz Fanon (Naima)
Ghana's Independence Movement (Sarah)
Ethiopia
Kenya
Zulu Wars

3-2-04        Sociological Perspectives (Section 4, pp. 110-132)
NOTE:  DUE TO A DEATH IN PROFESSOR FAIRCHILD'S FAMILY (HIS MOTHER), THERE WILL BE NO CLASS THIS WEEK.  Instead, students should write an op-ed style piece (see examples handed out in class) that incorporates elements from the readings (especially for this week, but up to this point in the semester), on any current event of their choosing.  Papers should aim for 750 words.  Students should submit, in order, notes, outlines, drafts and the final paper. Include the word count of the final draft.  The paper is due March 9, 2004.
3-4-04        Enslavement
Search Topics:
Slavery in Ancient Europe (Hal)
African Slavery (Adaeza)
Trans-Saharan (Dante)
Slave Trade (Kelly)
Middle Passage (Jed)
Arab Slave Trade (Dante)
Slave Narratives (Susannah)
Abolitionism (Naima)
Sojourner Truth (Kamau)
Frederick Doublass (Sarah)


3-9-04        Psychological Perspectives (Section 5, pp. 133-150)
3-11-04    Liberation Struggles
Search Topics
Nelson Mandela (Thea)
Julius Nyere
Kwame Nkrumah
Jomo Kenyatta
Oliver Tambo
Steve Biko
Marcus Garvey
Elijah Muhammad
Yaa Asantewa

3-16-04    SPRING BREAK
3-18-04    SPRING BREAK

3-23-04    Politics (Section 6, pp. 151-180)
3-25-04    Emancipation and Reconstruction
Search Topics


3-30-04    Economics (Section 7, pp. 181-198)
4-01-04    Wage Slaveries
Search Topics
Civil Rights Movement
Black Power Movement
Martin Luther King
Malcolm X
Rosa Parks
Brown vs. Board of Education
Lawrence Houston

4-06-04    The Arts
4-08-04    Intellectual Sovereignties
Search Topics
African Art
Jazz
Blues
Hip Hop
Phyllis Wheatley

4-13-04    Special Topics
4-15-04    Special Topics

4-20-04    Music and Dance (Section 8, pp. 199-226)
4-22-04    Harlem Renaissance
Search Topics
Zora Neale Hurston
Langston Hughes
Richard Wright
Paul Robeson

4-27-04    Special Topics
4-29-04    Present and Future Challenges
Search Topics


5-04-04    Student Presentations (2 minute or more rhymes on Black Studies)
5-06-04    Student Presentations (2 minute or more rhymes on Black Studies)

Grading:     To be subjectively determined by the instructor.  Quizzes make a big difference, as do:  (1) attendance; (2) writing assignments; and (3) participation.  The Psychograph paper, due on 4-29-04, is a self-analysis based on the contents of the course.  It should address the questions, Who am I?  Am I who I think I am?  Am I what I ought to be?  What ought I to be?  It should incorporate as much psychological jargon (theories, words, concepts, etc.) as is relevant to your self-analysis.

Students may expect daily quizzes at the beginning of class.