Introduction to African American Studies

Introduction to African American Studies Africans in America

Definition • “ . . . A field of study that systematically treats the past and present experiences, characteristics, achievements, issues and problems of Black citizens of the United States who are of African origin and background.”

It is . . . • Dialectic • Interdisciplinary • Contextual • Evolving • Dynamic • Wholistic • African • American

Course Breakdown • Purpose • Initiation and Development of African American Studies • History of Africans in America • Sociology • Black Psychology • Politics • Economic • Arts and Humanities

Purpose • Why

Philosophy Culture Aesthetics Historical Slavery Racism Separatism Desegregation Black Power Black Art Black Capitalism Black Nationalism Education Foundation

David Walker (1785-1830) Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) Maria Stewart (1803-1879) Henry Highland Garnet (1815-1882) Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) William Edward Burghardt DuBois (1868-1963) Booker T Washington (1856-1915) Carter G Woodson (1875-1950) E Franklin Frazier (1894-1962) Charles S Johnson (1893-1956) Alain Leroy Locke (1886-1954) Marcus Garvey (1887-1940) Some Key Players

Born a slave in 1856 in Virginia he was provisionally allowed to enroll in Hampton Institute. He turned out to be an extraordinary student and speaker. The principle of the institute recommended that he start his own school which he did. It became known as Tuskegee Institute. Booker T. Washington1856-1915 http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/aopart6.html

Anna Julia Cooper • “Women's Cause is One and Universal” http://www.blackpast.org/files/blackpast_images/cooper_anna.jpg

Ida B Wells Barnett http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-04/37477739.jpg

Mary Church Terrell http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASterrell.jpg

Born in Great Barrington, MA he became a social scientist, social activist, and political philosopher. He received his PhD from Harvard University and used “scientific method” to understand the development, nature and contributions of the Black community. He was one of the founders of the NAACP. W E B DuBois1868-1963

This native of Virginia was born to parents who were slaves at one time. The father of Black history. He was instrumental in reestablishing the importance of black history and “he provided the philosophical basis and rationale for Black intellectual and educational independence.” He initiated Negro History Week in 1926. Carter G. Woodson1875-1950

Born in Philadelphia, PA he was the first Black Rhodes scholar. He received his PhD from Harvard in 1918. He was an educator and philosopher who laid a lot of the the theoretical ground work for African American studies. He is also noted for being one of the interpreters of the Harlem Renaissance. Alain Leroy Locke1886-1954

Born in the Jamaica, West Indies he became a strong proponent of Black Nationalism and of a Black Nation. He instilled pride in Blacks and encouraged them to fight racism. He successfully started a black shipping line. He accentuated Black achievement which rival achievement of others ethnic groups. Marcus Garvey1887-1940 http://www.isop.ucla.edu/mgpp/photo01.htm

Zora Neale Hurston • Born in 1891? • One of America’s most prolific writers http://www4.wittenberg.edu/student_organizations/greek/alpha_phi_alpha/zpb3.jpg

Born in Bristol, VA this sociologist was the first Black president of Fisk University. He applied good research methodology and analysis in understanding African Americans. He used his analysis and findings to demonstrate the destructiveness of racism on Blacks. Charles S. Johnson1893-1956 http://www.britannica.com/blackhistory/micro/305/29.html

Born in Baltimore, MD Frazier became the leading authority of Black family life. His work BlackBourgeoisie caused quite a stir in the African American community because of it’s depiction of middle class Blacks” He was an integrationist and assimilationist. E. Franklin Frazier1894-1962 http://138.238.113.55/EFFC_1.html

Born in 1785 in Wilmington, NC Author, abolitionist, activist. Tailor by trade ‘an abolitionist by calling.’ Moved to Boston in 1827. Wrote “David Walker’s Appeal.” Advocated violence to end slavery. David Walker1785-1830

http://www.ktca.org/litandlife/chapters/chapter1main.html Poet born in Africa in 1753. Was purchased by Susannah Wheatley of Boston. She was educated by her “mistress.” She mastered Greek and became a poet “extraordinaire.” She eventually married a free black man by the name of John Peters. Phillis Wheatley1753-1784

Born in Hartford, CT was orphaned at 5. Despite her limited education she became a leading exponent of abolishing slavery and women’s rights. Maria Stewart1803-1879

Born a slave in Maryland, escaped with parents and moved to Penn in 1824. Graduated from Oneida institute and became an “outstanding scholar minister, writer, and educator.” On one hand he believed in America, and the principles of the Constitution and recruited for the Civil War. On the other hand he opposed whites and rejected democratic materialism. Represents “double consciousness.” Henry Highland Garnet 1815-1882

Born into slavery and escaped in 1838. Abolitionist who embraced integration. Was an articulate spokesperson for African America rights. Considered a black “philosopher and ideologist.” Frederick Douglass 1817-1895

Introduction to African American Studies