THIS CLASS WILL BE OFFERED FOR FALL- FALL SCHEDULE WILL BE POSTED BY 2/1/25

This class is based on the freshman-level two-semester African American History  AND Studies course I have taught in a Pennsylvania college. As such, it is built on a foundation of history to ensure that learners become very familiar with the themes and timelines historians often use when thinking about experiences of Africans in America at different times and in different places. However, this is NOT an African American history course- learners with limited exposure to African American history should plan to self study history before taking this class or while taking this class. 

This class is also prepares students for the College Board's Advance Placement African American Studies class. The goal is to develop critical thinking skills as listed in the "Learning Goals" section and to support learners who are studying for the AP African American Studies exam offered by College Board in Spring 2025. As is the case with all Advanced Placement exams, learners may study and then sit for exams as permitted by the schools providing the test; if taking an AP exam is a part of your plan, please reach out to the schools in your area EARLY to learn how self-studying learners can sit for official exams.  

We will complete the required AP Project in the class as required for the AP exam,

>>This class requires extensive independent study. Learners will be expected to read, write, present, discuss and otherwise engage the material weekly. Our time is short and this subject matter is vast.  Only learners that are committed to serious study should enroll in this rigorous course.  This class may also be a good choice for fresh/soph level students who are well organized. This class has no required prerequisite, but students should have a general knowledge of U.S or American history.   <<


Course Outline- Week by Week *Note- the weeks as listed this outline may change. 

(Pre-Week)- Setting the Agenda: We begin by understanding our classroom community. 

Unit One- Origins of the African Diaspora
Week 2- Africa, First Look
W 3- The Strength and Reach of West African Empires
W 4- Intercultural Forces in African Kingdoms and City-States
W 5- Gender, Community and Knowledge Production
W 6- Envisioning Early Africa in African American Studies

**Unit Class Project**
**Unit Assessment**

Unit Two- Freedom, Enslavement and Resistance 
Week 9- Atlantic Africans and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
W 10- The Middle Passage
W 11- Communal Life, Labor, and Law
W 12- Gender and Reformation of Kinship
W 13- Strategies for Change, Part 1
W 14- Strategies for Change, Part 2
W 15- Black Identities 
W 16- Abolition and the Politics of Memory 
**Class Project**
**Unit Assessment**

Unit Three- The Practice of Freedom
Week 17- Reconstruction and Black Politics
W 18- Uplift Ideology
W 19- The New Negro Renaissance 
W 20- Art, Literature and Music
W 21- Migrations, Pan-Africanism and Black Internationalism
**Class Project**
**Unit Assessment**
 
Unit Four- Movements and Debates
Week 20- Anti-Colonial Movements and Military Service
W 21- The Long Civil Rights Movement
W 22- Black Power, Black Arts, Black Pride and the Birth of Black Studies
W 23- The Black Feminist Movement, Womanism and Intersectionality
W 24- African American Studies: Movements and Methods 
W 25- Diversity Within Black Communities
W 26- Black Lives Today, Part 1
W27- Black Lives Today, Part 2
W 28- New Directions in African American Studies
**Class Project**
**Unit Assessment**

Our classroom space is a knowledge community in which everyone's participation is key. We engage the material together, ask questions and seek answers, and figure out how to apply what we know to what we learn. Open cameras are a must as humans communicate verbally and non-verbally. 

In most classes, learners can expect a 75/25 ratio of teacher/learner talking. Learners will be invited to speak in class via questions- our class is a place to practice speaking and listening, so we generally do not use the chat function for conversations. 

Learners will be given weekly reading assignment from the REQUIRED class text- Introduction to African American Studies.

Weekly lectures are supported by slides, short videos, and excerpts from primary source documents. When available, resources are provided to learners via the Google Drive.  Learners who do not have access to Google Drive will be accommodated based on their available technology.
 
Class Projects are developed and completed by the class, based on learner interest, and completed in class.
Unit Assessments allow learners a choice of assignments to complete independently. Choices will generally include an essay, a presentation (with slides), an artistic expression, etc. Learners seeking a grade must complete all assessments.

(Ignore this- it is for the search engines! AP, Black Studies Black history Advanced African-American)