NIGHT April 18: Black Sociology

Hank Williams

Image: US American Black. Faith Ringgold. via artist’s website. 1969. Oil on canvas. 60 x 84″. From Ringgold’s “Black Light” series.

NOTE THAT THIS IS THE UPDATE FOR THE NIGHT SECTION: IF YOU’RE IN THE DAY SECTION, SEE THE POST FOR YOUR CLASS

First, a few housekeeping details:

Course Announcements:

  • Prof. Williams Zoom live chat hours: Monday/Wednesday from 4-5 PM! on Zoom here. Or call: +1 929 205 6099 then add meeting ID: 528 450 5381. Or drop by Carman 291. No office/Zoom hours spring break week!

Quick highlights April 4 class:

  • Midterm exam
  • Music: Nina Simone: “Why the King of Love is Dead?”–on YouTube here
  • Video: “How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Created” from PBS Race: the Power of an Illusion. YouTube here

DO THIS for April 18:

For this week, there are two readings to do.

  • Read up to section 6.6 (pp. 249-268) of chapter 6 (Black Sociology) in Maulana Karenga’s Introduction to Black Studies. (18 pages total)
  • Joyce Ladner’s “Tomorrow’s Tomorrow: The Black Woman” from The Death of White Sociology. (15 pages: PDF document on the Readings page

What to read for:

The first half of chapter 6 deals with social science approaches of studying/analyzing Black communities, families, and life. Think about how the approaches presented deal with issues of methodology (how research is done and what questions are asked), impartiality and objectivity in research, and the relationship of the researcher to the subject. Try to understand:

  • Issues of ghettoization
  • culture and the different models
  • issues of studying Black family relations and the various approaches

From the PDF reading, think about how Ladner critiques dominant social science theories of approaching research. Reflect on how these issues have been presented in your own classes.

ATTEND class on Tuesday April 18

General reading strategies:

  • Underline/highlight key points in the text
  • Use the reading questions at the back of chapters to focus you: read those first
  • Try to understand the definitions of the key concepts listed at the back of the chapter
  • Make a note to ask the instructor to clarify anything you don’t understand
  • Note key issues, approaches, and dilemmas/challenges Dr. Karenga outlines

Discussion questions

  • See chapter/essay highlights above

Additional resources:

  • Book: Joyce Ladner The Death of White Sociology.
  • Book: Ira Katznelson When Affirmative Action Was White.

What’s Next?

Second half of Chapter 6 in Introduction to Black Studies

 

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