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CENTRAL MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
Africana Studies
Spring 2005
SYLLABUS
History 2410: Introduction to Africana Studies
Mr. Albion Mend’s Office Hours: Wood 136B
M-W 1:00-3:00pm or by appointment
543-4877 or 429-1235
mends@cmsu1.cmsu.edu or albion1215@hotmail.com
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTORS:
Dr. Bryan Carter- bc69@ureach.com Phone: 543-8661
Mrs. M. Jenise Comer comer@cmsu1.cmsu.edu Phone 543-8767
Dr. Delia Gillis – dgillis@cms1.cmsu.edu Phone: 543-8726
Dr. Yvonne Johnson – yjohnson@cmsu1.cmsu.edu Phone: 543-8680
Dr. C. Dianne Mack – mack@cmsu1.cmsu.edu Phone: 543-4160
Dr. Greg Streich – streich@cmsu1.cmsu.edu Phone 543-8840
Dr. Henry Wambuii- wambuii@cmsu1.cmsu.edu Phone 543-8854
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines the rise of African world civilizations, with emphasis on the
development of complex empires, the rise and fall of African empires, and the
influence, transmigration and retention of African arts, religions, music, family
structure and cultures in the Western Hemisphere.
II.
TEXTS AND READINGS:
Required:
Hine, Darlene Clark . The African American Odyssey, Research Media Update Edition,
Prentice Hall Publishers 2005
Students are expected to the access online website for their textbook at
http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_hine_aaodyssey_2. Student resources include maps,
primary sources, thematic timelines, Internet exercises, quizzes, glossaries, web links,
as well as research and writing guidelines. Pop quizzes will be administered if students
are not reading the assigned material.
Achebe, Chinua. Anthills of the Savannah, Anchor: Reissue edition 1997
Recommended:
Alkalimat, Abdul and Associates. Introduction to Afro-American Studies: A People’s
College Primer. Chicago: Twenty-first Century Books and Publications, 1986. E-Book
version can be found at http://eblackstudies.org/intro
Hayes, Floyd W., Ed. A Turbulent Voyage: Readings in African American Studies. San
Diego, California: Collegiate Press, 2000.
Each instructor may also place assigned readings on reserve at the Circulation Desk in
the J.C. Kirkpatrick Library, or will make readings available online.

III.
IV.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Read assigned texts.
Read assignments before coming to class.
2. Attend class and participate in class discussions.
3. Pass four exams.
4. Submit two activity papers (1-2 pages each).
5. Complete and pass take-home final exam.
COURSE COMPETENCIES:
1. Describe orally or in writing the rise and development of African world
civilizations.
2. Make comparisons; be prepared to compare and contrast various African
cultures and empires as well as their contributions to human development.
3. Use critical thinking skills by analyzing and discussing selected readings
and texts and analyze, interpret and draw conclusions from charts, graphs
and maps.
4. Identify and discuss key people, groups, cultural movements and events in
African and Western Hemispheric History.
5. Compare and contrast arts and cultures and cultural retentions in Africa,
the Caribbean and North America.
V. METHOD OF PRESENTATION:
We will use lectures, open discussions, student presentations and audiovisual
materials such as maps, videos, and transparencies. Most classes will meet in
Wood 103, although there will be alternative sites as indicated by instructors.
VI.
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
1. There will be four exams for this course that will comprise 80% of the final course
grade.
2. Two outside activity papers & presentations (2-3-pages each) will comprise 20%
of the final course grade.
3. The Take-Home Final Exam will be one of the course’s five exams and will
therefore comprise 20% of the final course grade.
Students will choose two questions – one from each Area of Concentration.
Using class notes and course readings, write a two-page essay on each question.
Grades will be assigned on the following basis:
90 - 100 = A
80 - 89 = B
70 - 79 = C
60 - 69 = D
0- 59 = F
3. STUDENT ACTIVITY PAPERS: Students will participate in 2 activities from
the attached list (one activity from each sub-discipline) and write two 2-3-page
papers following guidelines from the activity list. One of the activities should be
web-based. Hand in two copies of your papers. One will be returned to you. The
other will be kept in the Africana Studies files. For EACH day that the paper is
late, including Saturdays and Sundays, one letter grade will be deducted. A letter
and a number grade will be assigned the paper.

VII.
ACADEMIC ETHICS:
Students are expected to be familiar with the conditions (stated in the Student
Calendar/Handbook), which constitute an offense against academic honesty to
avoid breeches of these standards. Such offenses include cheating, plagiarism, or
violations of professional ethics.
VIII. ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is required and roll will be taken each class period. Each class
comprises 50 minutes. Students who miss more than four classes are required to
present documentation for the absence. Students who have more than 4
undocumented absences will have their final grade lowered one letter. (i.e. from
an A to a B).
IX.
ACCESSIBILITY/ADA:
Central Missouri State University is in compliance with Accessibility/ADA
standards. Please contact instructor for Accessibility needs.
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
January 10 Class Overview & Information All Instructors
January 12-14 Introduction to Africana Studies Mends
January 17
NO CLASSES: Martin Luther King Holiday
January 19-21 African Civilizations Mends
January 24-26
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
& the African Diaspora
Mends
January 28 Exam #1
January 31- February 4
African American Slave Narratives Johnson
February 7-11 African & Africana Family Comer
February 14-18 African American Family Comer
February 21 Exam #2
February 23-25 African Religion Mends
February 25-March 4 Caribbean & African American Religion Mends
1 st First Activity Paper is Due
Spring Break: March 7-12
March 14-18 African Political Systems Wambuii
March 21-23 Africana Political Systems Wambuii
March 25 Exam #3
March 28-April 1 Civil Rights & Black Power Movement Streich
April 4-April 8 Civil Rights & Black Power Movement Streich
April 11-April 15 African American Literature Carter
April 18-April 22 African American Literature Carter
2 nd Activity Paper is Due
April 25-29 African American Music Mack
May 4
Exam #4 Take Home Final Exam
Due in WOOD 136B by 4:30 pm
TENTATIVE ACTIVITIES LIST

Choose an activity from BOTH Area A and Area B. Complete two activities, then write and submit a 2-
3-page paper to the appropriate instructor. Ideas include the following but are not limited to the following
lists. If you have other proposals for your activity paper, please contact the appropriate instructor for
permission.
PAPER GUIDELINES
1. Each paper must be a minimum of 2 pages (approximately 750 words) and must be typed in 12
font.
2. Include an introduction and discuss why this activity or event was selected.
3. Identify three specific items or areas of learning in each paper.
4. Discuss any implications for your major or professional practice.
5. Apply content from the course to your experience.
6. Write a conclusion/summary at the end of the paper
7. Properly cite any external resources you use, including websites, interviews etc. You may use
APA, MLA, or Chicago Manual of Style (Turabian) guidelines, depending on your major.
AREA A – Literary, Geographical, Political and Historical Development
1. Visit the 18 th and Vine District in Kansas City, the GEM Theatre, the Negro Leagues Baseball
Museum, and/or the Blues and Jazz Museum. You may wish to visit the Art Exhibit on the Negro
Baseball Leagues.
2. Visit the African Art Collection on the third floor of the Nelson-Atkins Museum.
3. Attend Smokey Joe’s Café on Tuesday, February 15 th @7:30pm in Hendricks Hall
4. Visit an area Jazz and Blues Event.
5. Volunteer to aid in an African American’s Political Campaign – or in the campaign of a candidate
who has a pro-Civil Rights platform.
6. Shadow an African American legislative representative in Jefferson City.
7. Attend a poetry reading at the Blue Room (held weekly at 18 th & Vine, KC).
8. View a movie related to the African or African Diaspora experience. Selections should be
cleared by the appropriate instructor.
9. Access an online journal of African Events and Issues. Then write about a specific issue or event.
(Example: www.blackamericaweb.com www.bwt.com www.africana.com).
10. Attend a conference, lecture, speaking event or concert relating to Africana Studies
AREA B – Gender, Culture and Social Issues
1. Volunteer in a domestic violence shelter or food pantry in an African American community.
2. Visit an African American church (different denomination from one’s own).
3. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity (or the Front Porch Campaign in KC).
4. Attend a Kansas City Task Force Meeting on either the CMSU campus or in Kansas City.
5. Access the website at the Center for Black Music Research. (www.cbmr.org).
6. Attend a conference relating to Africana Studies
7. Participate in the Africana Studies Club Activities