455. Caribbean Culture and Politics. (3 s.h.)

An investigation of the roles of culture and politics in the development of the Caribbean basin. Particular emphasis will be placed on the ways that African cultural survivals, creolism, syncretism, and political struggle have acted to create the unique Caribbean outlook.

460. African Literature. (3 s.h.)

Examines African literature from 4000 B.C. to the 20th century. Special attention will be paid to the early sacred works, and didactic oral traditions, poetry, drama, the advent and literary aesthetics of Western-writers.

462. African American Literature. (3 s.h.)

Deals with the social context of African American literary development from enslavement to the present. Students are introduced to the cultural patterns and historical experiences that produced the early autobiographies, narratives, poetry, and essays as well as the 20th century novels, plays, and poetry.

464. The Literature of the Harlem Renaissance. (3 s.h.)

A study of the African-American realization of literary revivals between the two great 20th Century European wars. Special emphasis on Harlem as a venue and symbol of the emergence of modern African American literature.

465. Literature of the Black Power Revolution. (3 s.h.)

An overview of the major African American literary developments of the 1960's and 1970's in the United States. Looks at the works of Amiri Baraka, James Baldwin, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, Haki Madhubuti, and others.

466. African Aesthetics. (3 s.h.)

Examines the interrelationship of the creative process with cultural and philosophical motifs in African history by studying mythology, the generative and productive force of the spoken word and the power and significance of a wide variety of aesthetic concepts.

468. Major African Writers. (3 s.h.)

Examines the 20th century prose, fiction, and poetry of major writers of the African world, concentrating on the African continent. Students analyze writers in accordance with the protocols of literary innovations, afrocentric motifs, symbolic functionalism, and political themes. Looks at the works of Achebe, Ngugi, Baldwin, Wright, Hughes, Guillen, Morrison, Ellison, Beti, Soyinka, Head, Zapata Olivella, Estupinan, Senghor, Baraka, and others.

472. History of African American Art. (3 s.h.)

The advanced study of the history of African American art and its interrelatedness to self-affirmation and self-determination from the times of Benjamin Tanner to the present. Focuses on the lives and works of masters such as John Biggers, Charles White, Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, and Lois Maillou Jones.

505. Ethnographic Methods. (3 s.h.)

Examines the various classic and contemporary methods for collecting field data on African cultural and social behaviors. Emphasis on the use of audio and video data gathering methods, and participant observation.

521. Readings in African History. (3 s.h.)

Survey of the major developments in Africa through written and oral records with discrete emphasis on the analysis of perspectives both external and internal to Africa. Collected traditions, colonial and neocolonial scholarship, liberal and feminist writings, Marxist and neo-Marxist treatises as well as Africanist and afrocentrist literature will be examined.

540. Readings in African American Social Thought. (3 s.h.)

An intensive reading of the works of Frederick Douglass, Martin Delany, Frances Harper, W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Edward Blyden, Booker T. Washington, E. Franklin Frazier, Ida B. Wells, Anna Julia Cooper, and others. Looks at the intellectual roots of the ideas of significant contemporary thinkers.

547. Readings in 1960s Protests. (3 s.h.)

Close reading of documentary evidences in African American political, historical, and social thought during the turbulent sixties. Students prepare papers from primary documents.

552. Readings in Racism and the American Economy. (3 s.h.)

An analysis of the nature of racism and the American economy with special attention to the interconnection of racism and the capitalist economic system.

615. Seminar in African American Psychology. (3 s.h.)

An examination of theory and research pertaining to African American psychology. A selected discussion of various theoretical perspectives on African American personality and socialization.

625. Seminar in Nile Valley Civilizations. (3 s.h.)

A critical examination of selected topics in the civilizations of Kemet, Nubia, and Axum. Detailed analysis and discussion of the primacy of Kemet in African civilization.

640. Research and Writings of W.E.B. Du Bois. (3 s.h.)

An intensive examination of selected topics in the autobiographical works of Du Bois, historical, sociological, and creative works.

641. Seminar in the Life and Work of Malcolm X. (3 s.h.)

Examines the life and work of Malcolm X from the standpoint of his impact on social, political, and economic movements in the United States. The moral force of Malcolm X as seen in the growth of various urban religious and spiritual groups will be assessed.

642. Seminar in African American Social Philosophy. (3 s.h.)

An intensive seminar in the writings and activities of major social philosophers such as Edward Blyden, Ida B. Wells, Paul Cuffee, Martin Delany, David Walker, Malcolm X, Harold Cruse, and Angela Davis.

645. Seminar in the African American Woman. (3 s.h.)

An exhaustive treatment of theories relating to the role of the African American woman. Topics will include gender bias within the African American community, feminism and the black woman, sexism, classism, and racism, and the future of the black woman in America.

646. Seminar in the Works of Martin Luther King, Jr. (3 s.h.)

Students will prepare major papers examining various aspects of the writings and speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

662. Seminar in the African American Novel. (3 s.h.)

A seminar in the African American novel which may focus on one or several principal figures or examine a single theme during a particular historical period, i.e., the novel after 1945.

667. Seminar in African Aesthetics. (3 s.h.)

Examines the philosophical foundations of African aesthetics by concentrating on the cosmology, ritual religions, oral traditions, and proverbs of African people. Examines the question of what constitutes African standards of beauty, or art, or good, or culture.

750. Teaching African American Studies. (3 s.h.)

Required of all graduate teaching assistants prior to the assumption of teaching duties. Designed to teach communication and organizational skills. Supervision of teaching is required.

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