This course compares African and African American societies
from cultural and historical perspectives. The main issues
of the course are colonialism, education, nationalism,
development, religion, politics, pan-Africanism, racism,
ideologies and identities, and Afrocentricity. Beginning
with the process of the incorporation of Africa into the
European-dominated capitalist world-economy, the course
raises and examines historical factors that facilitated the
separation of African Americans from their motherland,
Africa. It also discusses the perceptions that Africans and
African Americans have for each other, and how they have
developed such perceptions.
Concentrating on the historical and political ties that
bind African Americans and Africans together, the course
also deals with some major problems that have confronted
these societies in the modern world system. To specifically
demonstrate these issues, it compares and contrasts African
American and some African societies in the twentieth
century. The course assists the students to go beyond
ethnocentrism and Eurocentric intellectual paradigms and
develop analytic skills and historical awareness for
comprehending African and African American societies.
Through class discussion, lecture, film and writing, the
students develop practical knowledge on these societies.
Students are required to read the assigned readings before
each class. They are encouraged to ask questions, debate,
and provide comments. Every student is required to have two
questions that elicit further discussion from the assigned
readings for each class.
The grade of this course will be based on regular class
attendance, active participation, one exam, two group review
essays. Each review essay is about ten pages. The first
review essay is on The Souls of Black Folk and Things Fall
Apart, and, the second essay is on From Civil Rights to
Black Liberation and Oromo Nationalism. The review essays
must reflect the group's critical understanding of the
course. The format for the exam will be combination of essay
and short answer, based on assigned readings, lectures,
class discussions, and films.
From the beginning of the class, students will form
groups (five members). These groups will be tools for
learning, discussing and writing in collective. Learning
how to work with others is an important element of higher
education.
All groups are invited to see the professor regularly
and discuss with him about their papers or any thing related
to the course. The Professor is willing to help all
students as much as possible. Every member of each group
must perform his/her duties professionally and ethically.
If a group member is not fulfilling his/her obligations, the
group must report to the professor and take appropriate
action.
The exam, the reaction paper, class attendance and
participation, papers are weighed as follows:
1. One exam 50%
2. Attendance and participation 10%
3. Review essay I 20%
4. Review essay II 20%
---
100%
Between 91 and 100= A
Between 86 and 90= B+
Between 81 and 85= B
Between 76 and 80= C+
Between 71 and 75= C
Between 60 and 70= D
ORGANIZATION OF THE COURSE
I. INTRODUCTION
1/18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
1/25 Orientation and introductory lecture
II. MERCANTILISM AND INCORPORATION INTO THE MODERN WORLD-ECONOMY
1. Mercantilism and precolonial Africa
2/1 Rodney, pp. 33-146
Film: "Caravans of Gold," room, 253, (5.05-6.25);
small group discussion
2. capitalism and colonialism
2/8 Rodney, pp. 149-201
Film: "This Magnificent African Cake," room,
253 (5.05-6.25); class discussion
III. UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA AND BLACK AMERICA
2/15 Rodney, pp. 205-280
2/22 Marable, pp. 1-103;Film: "The Second American
Revolution: Part I," room, 253 (5.05-6.25)
3/1 Marable, pp. 105-194;"The Second American
Revolution: Part II," room, 253 (5.05-6.25);
small class discussion
3/8 Exam
IV. NATIONALISM AND LIBERATION
3/22 Magubane, pp. 1-203; Film: "The Rise of
Nationalism," room, 253 (5.05-6-25)
3/29 William Sales, pp.1-214
4/5 Asafa Jalata, pp. 1-104
4/12 Asafa Jalata, pp. 109-216
4/19 Asafa Jalata, pp. 223-275; First review essay
due
V. CULTURE AND IDEOLOGY
4/26 Achebe, pp. 1-148
5/3 DuBois, pp.1-215
5/10 Second review essay due
AAAS 202 Introduction to African American Studies
AAAS 211 Introduction to African Studies
AAAS 421 Comparative Studies in African & African-American Socities
AAAS 480 Black Communities in Urban America
Soc 343 Race & Ethnicity
Soc 442 Comparative Poverty & Development
Soc 446 The Modern World System
Soc 543 Introduction to Development
Soc 645 Advanced Studies in Political Economy
Academic Resume