AFST308

This course is designed to examine the theories, thoughts and deeds of influential African-American public figures in the 19th, 20th, and 21st Centuries. Those thinkers include Booker T. Washington, David Walker, W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, Marcus Garvey, Maria W. Stewart, Bell Hooks, Martin Luther King Jr., and others. We will study their intellectual histories and thoughts in their attempt to advance democracy through their correspondence, essays, poems, memoirs, articles and speeches as well as through selected biographies about them. The social and political conditions and conflicts that gave rise to these leaders along with their adversaries will be explored as well. An emphasis in this course will be placed upon relevant class discussion, the ability to analyze large amounts of reading and visual material, utilization of technology, writing ability, and subject mastery that will be demonstrated through examinations and class participation.

Writing will be integrated into the life of this course. You will receive comments, direction, and support as you work on strengthening your writing skills. Your writing will be evaluated and returned in a timely fashion, allowing you to incorporate these comments into your future work. For help outside the classroom, please see the professor during office hours and/or work with a writing tutor in the Center for Reading and Writing.