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"Chop It up"- This Week in African American Lives: Discussion Group

Completed by 1 learner
Ages 12-16
Live Group Class
Learners are invited to use this time to discuss and unpack current topics, trends, issues and events in Black America. We practice intelligent discourse, information sharing and community building...joyfully.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(90 reviews)
Star Educator

Live video meetings
1x per week
1-6 learners per class
55 min

What's included

1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per week

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 11
Intermediate Level
Does your learner have thoughts and opinions about things? Would you like your learner to practice sharing ideas with confidence while maintaining a respectful conversation with peers? I have created this space for learners who like to keep the conversation going outside of my Black Studies /  classes.

There are many places in African American communities where people "chop it up" or have intelligent conversation about The Big Issues Of The Day. In fact, when the U.S. enforced legal segregation,  it was common for educated people to discuss and debate real and pressing issues in Black-owned spaces and now we can do that here, together. As our world gets more complicated and everyone retreats to social media and games, our youth need to practice having real conversations in a (virtual) face-to-face environment.

This class is a space for learners to share ideas, debate solutions and ask questions. This is NOT a lecture class. Often, I start class with a brief presentation framing the discussion and then we go from there. I always ask the learners what topics/issues they are thinking about. Each Learner will speak for AT LEAST 4 minutes uninterrupted about topics.

Learners who do not like to attend classes with their camera open or those who do not like to share opinions are not a good fit. Here, learners can ask questions and talk about views, ideas and solutions to the issues that matter in moderated conversations framed by the Question of the Week or Hot Topics submitted by learners.

Due to the nature of this class, our topics are not scheduled. However, they will generally fall under the categories of politics, culture, history, current events, and information discovery. Conversations are learner based, driven by current events and learner questions/interest and thus never repeat.

Here is a sample topic:
Brown University has announced that it is reinstating its SAT score requirement. This decision is based, in part, on their belief that standardized test provide opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to shine. However, some say that standardized test are unfair because they favor the rich and certain cultures. What say you?
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/05/us/brown-university-admission-test-optional.html

>>I encourage anyone with questions to send me a note- I love to hear your thoughts and questions.<<

Each week follows the same format:
1. What's on you mind? Each learner is invited to share, ask, or discuss any topic in current events (The Culture), African American history or Black Studies.

2. This week's Black Culture Tidbit

(To follow the Outschool preferred format, here is the rhythm over four weeks:

Week One: 
1. What's on you mind? Each learner is invited to share, ask, or discuss any topic in current events (The Culture), African American history or Black Studies.

2. This week's Black Culture Tidbit

Week Two:
1. What's on you mind? Each learner is invited to share, ask, or discuss any topic in current events (The Culture), African American history or Black Studies.

2. This week's Black Culture Tidbit

Week Three:
1. What's on you mind? Each learner is invited to share, ask, or discuss any topic in current events (The Culture), African American history or Black Studies.

2. This week's Black Culture Tidbit


Week Four:
1. What's on you mind? Each learner is invited to share, ask, or discuss any topic in current events (The Culture), African American history or Black Studies.

2. This week's Black Culture Tidbit

Other Details

Parental Guidance
>>This class uses primary and secondary sources that to follow events and opinions. Occasionally, we may find harsh language (such as a swear word or slur) in the documents. Parents should note that sources are generally learner provided and are intended for general, not juvenile, audiences. << Rules of Engagement: Learners are required to attend with an open camera. Learners are encouraged to share their opinions, even unpopular ones, but must be respectful of the opinions of other. We will often agree to disagree, which is ok. Civil discourse is the goal. Learners who cannot refrain from name calling or yelling will be muted, place in the waiting room or unenrolled. The teacher reserves the right to manage the enrollment of the class at all times- learners who do not contribute to creating a conducive environment may be unenrolled.
Pre-Requisites
Ideal for learners who have studied, or are studying topics in Black or African American studies i.e. AP African American Studies, Race & Politics, Topics in African American Studies, or African American History.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
My sources include the cannon of African American Scholarly thought to include everyone from WEB DuBois to Tressie McMillian Cottom. Learners should come ready to hear many different viewpoints, experiences and perspectives.

Meet the teacher

Joined March, 2020
4.9
90reviews
Star Educator
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Non-US Teaching Certificate in English to Speakers of Other Languages
Bachelor's Degree in History from Hampton University
I am excited to bring this class to Outschool. In addition to my education- my undergraduate (History- Hampton University) and graduate (U.S. History- Southern Methodist University) and my classroom experience (teaching college lower-division level African-American History) I also bring a wealth of interdisciplinary study and experiences to this space. I look forward to sharing my passion for understanding African American experiences through history, literature, music, cinema, food, sport, and institutions.  

Reviews



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