African American Literature; Race In America: Presentations/Lab

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First things first: welcome back. Get together in your reading groups and discuss the novel you have chosen to read. You will want to annotate and find textual evidence in your novel about issues central to Race in America and American culture.

How to do this:

  • What seems to be the link between being an "outsider" or being marginalized in America and crime or violence?
  • Why is it important that the character you read about needed a community or family? What might be the connection between the breakdown of the family unit and Black culture? What fills the space left by the absence of a strong community or family?
  • How are the philosophers we've been studying (DuBois, Hegel, King, X, Mandela, etc.) and their ideas prevalent in the book you're reading?
  • Discuss these central African American themes as they relate to your novel:
    • History/Roots or identity (and their absence: alienation)
    • Slavery & the importance of Freedom
    • Men/Women relationships & intimacy (sex)
    • Family/community
    • A quest to find one's "roots"; diaspora
    • Other issues: Jazz & the  Blues; oral storytelling; marginalization; politics/religion; crime & drugs; autobiography or personal narrative, etc.

You should be prepared to answer these kinds of questions using textual evidence and attribution/citation for your exam on Wednesday.

After your discussion, please go to the lab to complete the following:

 What's the solution to our race problem(s) in America? Alone or in small groups find out the answer and prepare an essay, or a Prezi, or some sort of organized speech on the topic that you will share with the class on Wedneday (any electronic text or presentation material does count for your portfolio!) If you are working with groups use Google docs or other means to connect with your partner over break to discuss the issue. You may also get help from someone OUTSIDE of class.

Use the materials I've covered in class, use your own brain, use your own experiences. Be prepared to share your clear, thoughtful ideas with the class on Wednesday.

Use the lab to prepare this project, read your novels and prepare for your exam on Wednesday, or use the time in the lab to write or contribute to your portfolio (including revisions!)

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