Photo: Dr. Wade Nobles
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.
Malcolm X class: For anyone interested, there’ll be a class session on the historical legacy of Malcolm X in my African American history (AAS 245) class on Monday May 8 at 6 PM. It meets in the same classroom we do. Stop by if you’re interested in Malcolm!
Course Announcements:
- IN-CLASS QUIZ ON SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 7 TUESDAY 5/16!
- Sections 7.2, 7.3, 7.6, 7.7
- Focus on power, issues of political power, functions of Black elected officials, limitations of Black elected officials,
- Schedule notes: Last class meeting is Tuesday 5/16. Final Exam is Tuesday 5/23 6:15-8:15 in usual classroom
- 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 from Week 12 (11/14)’s class:
- Started Chapter 7 on Black politics in Maulana Karenga’s Introduction to Black Studies
- Lecture notes posted in the usual spot
- Musical intro: Comedy duo Key and Peele’s “Obama Meets With the GOP” skit. Extra: Richard Pryor’s “The First Black President” skit from his TV variety show (1977)
DO THIS Tuesday May 9
We’ll start class by finishing discussion of chapter 7; make sure you’re caught up on the reading if you haven’t finished that chapter yet.
For this week, there are 3 texts: 1) part of chapter 10 (Black Psychology) in Maulana Karenga’s Introduction to Black Studies 2) an article from Dr. Wade Nobles 3) a video from Dr. Joy DeGruy.
1-READ the first section of chapter 10 (Black Psychology-pp. 397-401–6 pages) in Maulana Karenga’s Introduction to Black Studies which has the following sections:
- Intro and historical origins (10.1, 10.2)
- 3 major schools: differences between approaches (10.3)
READ the section of chapter 10 on the psychology of Wade Nobles: (Pages 414-415)
2-READ Dr. Wade Nobles’s article “Fractured Consciousness, Shattered Identity: Black Psychology and the Restoration of the African Psyche” from the Journal of Black Psychology. 9 pages. PDF linked here. (Courtesy of his website.)
3-WATCH Dr. Joy DeGruy introduce her theory of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome:
4-(OPTIONAL)-Dr. Wade Nobles’s article “From Black Psychology to Sakhu Djaer: Implications for the Further Development of a Pan African Psychology” from the Journal of Black Psychology. PDF link here.
What to read for:
Chapter 10 gives an overview of the broad field of Black Psychology. It starts with a brief overview of the history followed by specific examples of practitioners who began to shape the response to their field, followed by the developments of the 1970s and beyond where a more defined response rooted in culture and experiences of African people outside of dominant theories takes hold. This week, focus on understanding the structure of the field and history from the reading in the textbook. For the reading and video by Drs. Nobles and DeGruy, think about their theories of collective trauma and how this shapes overall responses. If there are any psychology or social work majors, think about how this approach might shape your own ways of operating.
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:
- Website of Dr. Wade Nobles
- Website of Dr. Joy DeGruy
- Website for the Association of Black Psychologists
- Website for the local New York chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists
What’s Next?
Chapter 10 (Psychology) part 2 in Introduction to Black Studies
Introduction to Africana Studies 