NIGHT May 2: Black Politics

Photo: It’s Nation Time. Amiri Baraka. Black Forum Records (Motown). 1972.

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

General Announcements:

The Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC) conference runs from 4/28-May 6 online via Zoom. Details/registration here.

Fall 2023 Courses: For those interested, I’ll be teaching African American History (AAS 245) on Wednesday nights–online. It’s writing intensive. I’ll also be teaching 2 sections of African American Literature (AAS 267)–which is writing intensive. There’ll be in-person sections on Monday night and Tuesday afternoon.

Course Announcements:

  • IN-CLASS QUIZ ON SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 6 NEXT MONDAY 5/2!
    • Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, and 6.7
    • Focus on Ghetto/ghettoization, race, class, cultural paradigms, pathology, Black family, Crusian cultural paradigm, quality relations & “the connections”
  • 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.

Quick highlights April 25 class:

DO THIS for Tuesday May 2

Read all of chapter 7 (Black Politics) in Maulana Karenga’s Introduction to Black Studies. Please bring your book or PDF files/printout with you!

What to read for:

Chapter 7 takes a broad look at political engagement from Kemet to the experience in the US. Think about what rooting political responses in ancient texts does. Review the “Crusian Paradigm” from chapter 6 on social organization and think about how that relates to/shapes political engagement. Also think about how the chapter frames political engagement as more than just the electoral process–and indeed what goes into the electoral process behind the scenes.

ATTEND class @ 6 PM on Tuesday May 2

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

What’s Next?

Chapter 8 (Psychology) in Introduction to Black Studies

Advertisement