San Diego Community College District Course Syllabus

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BLAS 140B (89701) HIST U.S./BLACK PERSPECTIVES 2011 - FALL

INSTRUCTOR: DARIUS SPEARMAN TELEPHONE: (619) 388-3187 E-MAIL VIA BLACKBOARD OFFICE HOURS: MON & WED 9:30-11:00AM; TUE & THUR 11:05AM-12:35PM AND BY APPOINTMENT, ROOM A-1(E) CLASS MEETS: ONLINE FROM 8/22/2011 TO 12/17/2011;

ADVICE: English 51 and passing score on English 51 exit exam THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Students will be notified of syllabus changes during a regularly scheduled class. It will be the students responsibility to ensure they possess the latest version of the class syllabus.

NOTE: Controversial subjects may be the topic of discussion or readings. WHATS INSIDE:
REQUIRED TEXTS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2 COURSE DESCRIPTION & STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES .............................................................................................................. 2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 ATTENDANCE AND GRADING ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 HONEST ACADEMIC CONDUCT ................................................................................................................................................... 5 DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 5 COURSE SCHEDULE............................................................................................................................................................6

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REQUIRED TEXTS
1. Hine Darlene Clark, et.al., African Americans: A Concise History (Combined Edition 3/E), Prentice Hall, 2009, ISBN: 0136002781 2. Horne, Gerald. Black and Brown: African Americans in the Mexican Revolution, NYU Press; ISBN: 0814736734 3. Taylor, Quintard. In Search of the Racial Frontier. W.W. Norton; ISBN: 039-3-31-8893

COURSE DESCRIPTION & STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course covers the history of the United States from Reconstruction to the present with emphasis on African American experience and contributions. It focuses on political, social, economic, cultural, and intellectual trends, the persistence of racism, and the struggle for full equality for all Americans. NOTE: The complete oneyear course of Black Studies 140A and 140B satisfies the graduation requirements in American institutions and California state government. Upon successful completion of the course the student will have gained experience in: 1. Analyze the politics of the post-Reconstruction period and discuss the Republican Party's abandonment of African Americans. 2. Trace the origins of the "Jim Crow" system, identify its social, political, economic and legal components and discuss the system's impact on African Americans. 3. Discuss the cultural, economic, social, educational and political struggles and accomplishments during the Jim Crow period and identify ideas, programs and tactics of key African American leaders. 4. Discuss the rise of the American Labor movement and illustrate how race affected the politics and economic achievements of the movement. 5. Analyze factors that account for the rise of "New Imperialism" and the world wide subjugation of non white nations, and explain implications for African Americans and overall race relations in the United States. 6. Trace the origins of the Progressive movement, identify the movement's local, state, national, and racial agenda, and analyze its political, social, and cultural impact on American life. 7. Analyze the causes of WWI, examine U.S. role in the war and discuss how African Americans were treated, both at home and in the military during the war. 8. Identify the causes of the large scale migrations of Blacks from the South to Northern cities, assess the impact of the migration, and describe the culture and political movements that emerged in the African American community as result of WWI and migrations. 9. Discuss the political, social, and economic developments between WWI and the Great Depression, and explain how these developments affected U.S. foreign policy and contributed to social and racial conflict. 10. Analyze the causes of the Great Depression and its political and economic effect on American society, and illustrate how the New Deal transformed American politics, in particular African American political orientation. 11. Identify the causes of WWII, describe the role and treatment of Blacks during the war, and explain how the war transformed the nature of Black struggle for freedom. 12. Discuss the origins of the Cold War, and analyze its impact on American foreign policy and on Black struggles for freedom.

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13. Discuss the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970's, identify key leaders and organizations involved, and explain the movements effect on other social, economic and political reform movements of the period. 14. Summarize the accomplishments of African Americans as a result of the Civil Rights movement and assess the problems that were never resolved by Civil Rights laws. 15. Discuss the rise of Black militancy in the sixties and seventies, analyze the concept of Black Power and identify the goals of Black Nationalists. 16. Discuss social, political and economic developments between 1980 and the present, and analyze their impact on society in general and on African Americans in particular. 17. Describe the nature of California government focusing on the principles and processes of California constitution, explain the relationship between state and local government, and analyze how social, political, legal and economic developments have affected African Americans. 18. Interpret, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize primary and secondary reading assignments, and write essays that are clear and coherent, on important historical questions and issues.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
4 Response Papers (50 points each) Write a 500-700 word typed paper on a prompt to be determined in class. To adequately address each question, we would suggest a minimum of 3 main points explored in a fair amount of detail. The assigned readings should be sufficient to adequately address the topic, and should be the only materials referenced in your essays. DO NOT CITE FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES. Key points must be supported and cited with evidence from the required readings. You MUST cite from at least two sources per paper i.e. (Author, p. 10). Allow the material to speak to you and for you. Doing so should also permit you to be creative in how you piece the material together. Be SPECIFIC in your answer. Eliminate the following words from your vocabulary: this, these, that, they, its. Please see the Response Paper Grading Rubric for specific details on how you will be assessed for this assignment. Class Discussion/Participation (300 Points) Your participation in the weekly discussions, your ability to answer questions, and to initiate dialogue based on the required readings, will be graded. Each student is expected to have read the assignments and have given them careful thought. You will be given a weekly prompt for discussion and will be graded based on the posted rubric. Be sure to incorporate one of the key terms from the current unit, and do so in a way that makes clear that you understand the term. A passing reference to "afrocentrism" is not sufficient. In order for me to assess your understanding of the material, you must say something like "...afrocentrism, which is defined as ..." (be sure to underline key terms). Each weeks discussion is worth 20 points. Honors Option (100 Points)* Write a 7-10 page research paper on the topic of your choice. Your paper should include no less than four print sources such as books or scholarly journals no more than two of those sources may be from texts used in the classroom. Please discuss and clear your topic with me by September 23, 2011. Computer Skills Advisory

Please contact the Honors Department for details in room A1-N (619) 388-3512, or http://www.sdcity.edu/honors/.

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Enter level of computer skills expected or types of assignments requiring computer skills. (In most college courses students are expected to have a basic familiarity with computer terms and use: word processing, document manipulation, spreadsheets, email, and online services. These skills can be learned at any of the colleges or Continuing Education.)

ATTENDANCE AND GRADING

Attendance Requirements Students may be dropped after four (4) week without an active log in OR after having missed four (4) assignments. The 4 week/4 assignment rule is at my discretion, though, so please keep me informed of any issues as they arise and allow me to help you work through them. It is the students responsibilisty to drop all classes in which (s)he is no longer participating. Deadline to drop classes with no W recorded is 9/6/2011. Withdrawal deadline is 10/28/2011. No drops may be accepted after this date. Students who remain enrolled in a class beyond the published withdrawal deadline, as stated in the class schedule, will receive an evaluative letter grade in this class.

Grading will be on a point scale and will be assigned as follows:

REGULAR SCALE
A B C D F = = = = < 500-450 Points 449-400 Points 399-350 Points 349-300 Points 300 Points

HONORS OPTION*
A B C D F = = = = < 600-540 Points 539-480 Points 479-420 Points 419-360 Points 360 Points

Points for individual assignments will be broken down as follows: Response Papers: 200 points In-Class Discussion/Participation: 300 points Optional Honors Paper: 100*

Credit/No Credit Beginning Fall 2009, the title credit/no credit will change to pass/no pass in accordance with Title 5, section 55022. All assignments are considered due by the posted due date: LATE WORK WILL BE FORGIVEN ONCE (FOR ANY REASON) AFTER THAT NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED

Please contact the Honors Department for details in room A1-N (619) 388-3512, or http://www.sdcity.edu/honors/.

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HONEST ACADEMIC CONDUCT

Students are expected to be honest and ethical at all times in their pursuit of academic goals. Students who are found in violation of district Procedure 3100.3, Honest Academic Conduct, will receive a zero (0) grade on the assignment in question with no opportunity to make up the grade. Additionally students may be referred for disciplinary action in accordance with Procedure 3100.2, Student Disciplinary Procedures. This policy applies to all work submitted in class or online including, but not limited to, emails, discussion postings, assignments, essays, and exams.

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENT

Please meet with me to discuss any academic accommodations that may be necessary for students with disabilities. An alternate from of this syllabus and other class handouts is available upon request. Further accommodations can be made upon arrangement with myself and the Department of Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS), Room A-115 (619) 388-3513

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COURSE SCHEDULE
UNIT 1: THE UNFINISHED REVOLUTION
Week Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Date Aug 22 - Aug 27 Aug 28 - Sep 3 Sep 4 - Sep 10 Sep 11 - Sep 17 Topic Course Introduction Discussion 01: Assessment of Reconstruction Discussion 02: The Unfinished Revolution Discussion 03: Savage ActsWars, Fairs, and Empire

(4 WEEKS)
Assignment Hine, CH 13 Hine, CH 14-15 Taylor, CH 4-5

UNIT 2: ASSIMILATION, AGITATION OR CLASS UNITY? (4 WEEKS)

Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Sep 18 - Sep 24 Sep 25 Oct1 Oct 2 - Oct 8 Oct 9 - Oct 15 Discussion 04: The Cry Was Unity (Part 1) Discussion 05: Discharged Without Honor Discussion 06: The Cry Was Unit (Part 2) Discussion 07: Alternative Voices of the Harlem Renaissance Hine, Ch 16 Response Paper 1 Due Horne, CH 2 & 5-7 Hine, CH 17 Hine, CH 18

UNIT 3: Civil Rights (4 Weeks)

Week 9 Oct 16 - Oct 22 Discussion 08: Scottsboro: An American Tragedy Hine, CH 19 Taylor, CH 8 Response Paper 2 Due Taylor, CH 9 Hine, CH 20 Hine, CH 21

Week 10 Week 11 Week 12

Oct 23 - Oct 29 Oct 30 - Nov 5 Nov 6 - Nov 12

Discussion 9: Eyes on the Prize, Awakenings Discussion 10: Eyes on the Prize, The Time Has Come Discussion 11: Eyes on the Prize, Nation of Law?

UNIT 4: Completing the Revolution (5 Weeks)

Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17 Nov 13 - Nov 19 Nov 20 - Nov 26 Nov 27 - Dec 3 Dec 4 - Dec 10 Dec 11 - Dec 17 Discussion 12: Bastards of the Party **Thanksgiving Holliday** Discussion 13: Black Politics, White Backlash Discussion 14: Democracy Now! Soldiers Go From Fighting in Iraq to Fighting A New War At Home Discussion 15: Race vs. Gender - Femiphobia and Homophobia Within the Black Liberation Struggle Taylor, CH 10-Conclusion Response Paper 3 Due Hine, CH 22 Hine, CH 23 Hine, CH 24 Response Paper 4 Due