ASSIGNMENTS DUE

Fall 2022: SYLLABUS for York College BLST 103 – Black Women in the Atlantic

WEEK / DATE	TOPIC / DISCUSSION	ASSIGNMENTS DUE
Week 1 [8/30 – 9/5]	Intro – Black women in Africa and the diaspora: issues and position in society. Objectives To introduce ourselves and get acquainted To review course syllabus To review the course discussion and share observations and experiences on “perspectives” of Black Women around the World. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course will examine the political, social and economic change of women in Africa and areas of the Diaspora (The Caribbean, Brazil and the U.S.).  In doing so, this course will analyze the survival of traditional institutions which have been affected by modernization and western values.  Particular issues concerning black women that have redefined their position in society such as slavery, racial discrimination, employment, continuity of the family, and education will be studied in relation to the overall black experience.  TEXTBOOK The Role of Culture on the Leadership Styles…, Author: Dr. Remi Alapo, Publisher: Asta Publications, Year Published: 2016, Price: 20.00 USD, Notes: Copies available directly from author. ISBN:  9781934947951	Introduction WEEK 1 ASSIGNMENT PRESENTATION / SUMMARY Please post an introduction about yourself and your experiences learning about black women in Africa, and the Americas. Share any personal reflections or observations about the above course description. You will give a 2 minutes summary in zoom class.
Week 2 [9/6 – 9/12] [No class on 9/6: labor day]	Myth of black women – perspectives and perceptions. Objectives   To learn about some of the existing myths of Black women in literature / society. To explore the counter narratives of Black women in literature / society. To debunk the “angry black women myth / theory / concept / ideology”.   Review / reflect on the following   … Black feminist texts which center the experiences of Black women, rather than relegating them to the margins.  This literature demonstrates Black women’s agency and serve as counter-narratives to pernicious myths, which for centuries have circulated regarding the Black female body.  We will also examine the role these women played in resistance movements throughout history as well as the effects of racial, gendered, class and other types of oppression on them.  Discussion topics include gender, sexuality, ethnicity, identity, economics, education, family, politics, and religion.   Read 1] Alapo, 2016 – ch. 1: Bases of Power.   [Generation X: The Role of Culture on the Leadership Styles of Women in Leadership Positions Paperback – February 4, 2016 by Dr. Remi Alapo].   2] 2 – Debunking the myth of the angry black woman.pdf     [ J. Celeste Walley-Jean. (2009). Debunking the Myth of the “Angry Black Woman”: An Exploration of Anger in Young African American Women. Black Women, Gender Families, 3(2), 68-86. Retrieved September 12, 2021, from https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/blacwomegendfami.3.2.0068].   Watch Harnessing Anger for Change (Panel Discussion).   Premiered Oct 23, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-tCaw1V1DE	DISCUSSION After reviewing the above, respond in a 1 page paper summary on BB to the “myth” of how black women have been portrayed over the past few centuries in literature?. Research and use additional references. You will make a 3 – 5 minutes presentation / discussion in class. We will be compiling your references on a weekly basis so please post the references on your response when you respond. Use appropriate format and summarize appropriately.  In addition, you will respond to 2 different people’s post on BB – due by 11:30pm on Monday [5 Points – post in assignment folder under week 2 to receive your 5 points for the 1 page summary. Make sure to include additional references].       Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 3 [9/13 – 9/19]	African women in traditional African society.	Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 4 [9/20 – 9/26]	Political, social and economic position of women in traditional African societies.	Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 5 [9/27 – 10/3]	Matrilineal and patrilineal families.	Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 6 [10/4 – 10/10]	Historical overview of African women and their contribution to the development of civilizations.	Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 7 [10/11 – 10/17] [No class on 10/11 – college closed]	African women and their contribution to the development of activism.	Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 8 [10/18 – 10/24]	African women and the diaspora during the slave trade centuries.	Response paper due: 3 – 4 pages
Week 9 [10/25 – 10/31]	Black women in the Americas during the slave trade centuries.	Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 10 [11/1 – 11/7]	Black Women after Slavery in the Caribbean, US. and Brazil	Midterm due: Group presentation / paper
Week 11 [11/8 11/14	Black Women in Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, and the US in the 21st Century.	Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 12 [11/15 – 11/21]	Black Women and the impact of globalization.	Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 13 [11/22 – 11/28] [Thanksgiving week]	Education vs. Mis-education and the Black woman.	Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 14 [11/29 – 12/5]	Black women in Religion and spirituality.	Written Reflection / Oral Summary
Week 15 [12/6 – 12/12]	Future directions and trends for Black women in Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil and the US.	Oral ppt presentation
AFN / ANT 128 Reading Day [12/13]	Annotated Bibliographies	Final Exam review
AFN / ANT 128 Final Exam [12/17]	My Black Woman Story ppt	Final PPT slides

Week 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14: Written Reflection / Oral Summary

5 points each due by 11:30 pm Sundays.

Week 8: Discussion / Reflection paper

3 pages summary on black women in Africa, Caribbean, Brazil and the US – debunking the myth / perspective of the “Black Woman”. You may select a specific region, topic or provide a general summary. Review weeks 1 – 8 content and respond in 3 – 4 pages. Make sure to use additional references [10 points].

Week 10: Midterm Exam 

Group presentation: 5 points

Group paper: 10 points

Total: 15 points

Select a topic below and write a 5 pages summary. Make sure to use both in text and separate reference page.

Slavery in the Caribbean, U.S. and Brazil

1.            Women as an economic factor

2.            Sexual abuse and slavery

3.            Women and resistance

4.            Patterns of Motherhood

5.            Male and Female relations

6.            Other topics tba

Week 15: Final exam presentation and annotated bibliographies

Oral presentation: “My Black Woman Story”: 10 points

10 – 15 pages ppt presentation: 10 points

Annotated references: 5 points

Total: 25 points