Students will read closely the writings of early Africans in America and critically evaluate their impact on and interaction with mainstream American and other cultures. The course also has the following general goals to:

Identify and examine types of genre used by early African American authors

Explore the stylistic features of these works--characters, themes and such

Examine critical and theoretical approaches to early African American

writing

Increase student ability to write organized, coherent, and insightful essays.

Students will read closely and write perceptively about ongoing course assignments and readings. Two 5-page course papers, midterm and final exams are required.

Required Texts

(1998) Patricia Hill, et al., Eds.

The Fanatics (1901). Paul Laurence Dunbar

Tentative Course Reading Schedule

Aug. 20 Introduction

22 African and African American Folktales: "Why the Hare Runs Away," pp. 60-61

24 African and African American Folktales: "Tar Baby," pp. 63-64

27 Spirituals: "Steal Away," pp. 236-237; "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," p. 237

29. Spirituals continued

Sept. 3 LABOR DAY, NO CLASS

5 Jupiter Hammon: "An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ, with Peneten-tial

7 Phillis Wheatley: "On Being Brought from Africa to America," p. 98

10 Benjamin Banneker: "Letter to Thomas Jefferson," pp. 156-160

12 Banneker continued; FIRST DRAFT OF FIRST ESSAY DUE

14. Confessional Slave Narrative: "The Life and Confession of Johnson

17. Atlantic Slave Narrative: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah

19 Equiano continued; FIRST ESSAY DUE

21 Early Black Nationalism: Henry Highland Garnet: "An Address to the

Slaves of the United States," pp. 264- 272

24 David Walker: David Walkers Appeal, pp. 245-257

26 Thomas Gray: The Confessions of Nat Turner, pp. 418-432; REVISION OF

28 Nat Turner continued

Oct. 1 Paul Laurence Dunbar: The Fanatics

3 The Fanatics continued

FALL BREAK, NO CLASSES

10 The Fanatics continued

12 The Fanatics continued

15 James Whitfield: From America and Other Poems, America, pp. 377-381

17 George Moses Horton: "On Hearing of the Intention of a

19. Frances Watkins Harper: "The Slave Auction" and "The Slave Mother," pp.

22 Fugitive Slave Narratives: Frederick Douglass: Narrative of the Life of

Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, pp. 272-319

24 Douglass continued

26. Douglass continued; Harriet Jacobs: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,

29 Jacobs continued

31 Jacobs continued

Nov. 2 Early African American Feminism: Sojourner Truth: "Speeches," pp. 258-264

5 Truths "Speeches" continued; FIRST DRAFT OF SECOND ESSAY DUE

9 Anna Julia Cooper: From Voice of the South, pp. 641-650

12 First African American Novel: William Wells Brown: Clotelle: A Tale of the

14 Brown continued

16 Post-Bellum Slave Narratives: Elizabeth Keckley: Behind the Scenes;

or Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House (Handout)

19. Keckley continued; REVISION OF SECOND ESSAY DUE

26 Charles W. Chesnutt: "The Passing of Grandison," (Handout)

28 Chesnutt continued

30 Booker T. Washington: Up from Slavery, pp. 658-660, 673-684

Dec. 3 Washington continued

5 W. E. B. DuBois: Souls of Black Folk; pp. 732-748

Evaluation

The final course grade is determined by two, 5-page essays that count for 25% each (50%), a midterm exam that counts for 20%, and a final exam that counts for 30%. All students will prepare a first draft of the course essays and revise those that do not receive at least a C; the final grade will be the highest grade of all drafts. The topic for the first essay is assigned, but you pick the topic for the second paper, which must be approved. ALL COURSE WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE TURNED IN ON TIME, and late papers are dropped one whole letter grade.

Makeup exams are rare, except for medical emergency for which the student provides documentation. Grades are based on the following: A= 4.0; A-= 3.7; B+= 3.3; B= 3.0; B-= 2.7; C+= 2.3; C= 3.0; C-= 1.7; D+= 1.3; D= 1.0; D-= .7; F= 0; WF= 0

Attendance:

Students who have more than four unexcused absences are dropped from the class. Tardiness will not be tolerated, and the classroom door will be closed promptly at 9:00 AM each class day.

Office: 111 McIver Bldg.

Office Hours: MWF, 10:00 AM-11:00 AM and by appointment.