Course Schedule

WEEK 1 [8/26 – 8/30]: Introduction to Africa before 1500 / Syllabus Review

OER / ZTC resources:

Suggested Reading

N/A

Videos

Discussion Questions / Reflection:

  1. Introduce yourself and share your general perspective slavery.
  2. Describe what you know or have learned about African history before 1500.
WEEK 2 [8/31-9/6]: Africa before 1500

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Readings

Resources on African Civilization before European Colonization

Videos

Discussion Questions / Reflections:

  •   What Africans were doing before European contact.
  • Share your reflections on what you discovered / have learned about African civilizations before 1500.
WEEK 3 [9/7-9/13]: African Civilizations Before European Contact

Suggested  OER / ZTC resources:

Readings

Videos

Discussion Questions / Reflection

  1. Discuss some of the ancient civilizations in Africa and why they are very important in history?
  2. Reflect on examples from the beginnings of the Common Era to the period of European imperialism, worlds of great empires, royal courts, pastoral nomads, tribal chiefs, stone palaces, intricate art, and glorious gold that emerged; kingdoms that collapsed, and intertwined with other societies.
  3. Include in your discussion powerful states were built from small towns and villages and those with a great network of regional and overseas trade that was established; wars that were waged, territories and people that were seized, bought, and sold, kings that became rich, and Islam that spread across the continent.
WEEK 4 [9/14 – 9/20]: African Kingdoms and Empires

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Readings

N/A

Videos

Lost kingdoms of Africa: Series 1 – 4

Reflection / Reflection Paper: African Kingdom / Empire

Conduct a research on any ONE Kingdom or Empire that existed in Africa prior to European contact and tell us about it: the location, if the kingdom or empire still exists and in what country or region it is located in Africa today.

In your response, discuss:

  • Major or key contributions of that society to the west / world.
  • What the kingdom / empire was or its key contributions.
  • What country or countries or country in Africa today is representative of the kingdom or empire.
  • Any conflicts today in that region? How did conflicts come about to that region and why?
  •  Any interesting findings or discoveries such as languages, food, culture, innovation or invention or any contributions to civilization from ancient did you see in current day activity / life.
Week 5 [9/21 – 9/27]: Key Civilizations and Contributions / Commerce and Trade in Africa from 1500

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Reading

Commerce and Trade from 1500

Videos

Key Civilizations and Contributions

Discussion Questions / Reflection

Write a personal response to the following questions below:

  1. Discuss some of the key civilizations and contributions of Africa to the various regions of the world before European contact or invasion or before Columbus.
  2. Why was Africa prone to European invasion?
  3. Describe some of the key contributions of African to “modern civilization”. What impact did this invasion have on the civilization of Africa or growth?

Reminder: Outline of final paper due this week.
WEEK 6 [9/28 – 10/4]: Coming of the Europeans

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Readings: N/A

Videos

Discussion Questions / Reflection

Write a reflection summary from the content of this weeks’ lecture about the “coming of the Europeans to Africa before the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade”.
Week 7: [10/5 – 10/11]: Slavery and Slave Trade in Africa: Types of Slavery / Role of Islam

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Readings

Videos

Reflection / Reaction Paper on Types of Slavery

Discussion Questions / Reflection

  1. Discuss some shocking facts about slave trade that many people may not know about. Give key examples.
  2. Why do you think most people focus on just one type of slave trade?
  3. Discuss other types of slavery and some of their impact on Africa before the Trans -Atlantic Slave Trade.
  4. Discuss what was unique about other types of slave trade
Week 8: [10/12-10/18]: Africa and The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: Origins and Growth

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Guest lecture / presentation by Professor Oluremi Alapo and Chief Ifakunle of Oyotunji Village, S. Carolina on “The origins and growth of the Atlantic Slave Trade” (Thursday October 15, 2020).

Zoom class presentation: Oluremi Alapo’s Personal Meeting Room – Zoom

Contact: About OAV – Oyotunji

Readings

Videos

Discussion questions

No formal question but you can write a short response on the reading / video and presentation by Chief Ifakunle this week. See zoom discussion link above for October 15, 2020.

Reminder: 1st draft of final paper due this week
Week 9 [10/19 – 10/25]: The Trans – Atlantic Slave Trade

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Guest speaker: Dr. Wale Ajibade, Executive Director of African Views Organization will discuss “the Trans – Atlantic Slave Trade and Africa” (Thursday October 22nd).

Zoom class presentation:  Revised Lectures on the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade – YouTube

Contact: African Views Organization: www.africanviews.org

Readings

Videos

Discussion Questions / Reflection paper

Write a personal reflection based on the content on this weeks’ topic, readings / videos and presentation by last and this weeks’ guest speaker.
Week 10 [10/26 – 11/1]: Effects of Trans – Atlantic Slave Trade on Africa

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Guest Speaker: Prof. Carl Patrick Burrowes (Thursday October 29, 2020): “A discussion on the country of Liberia” – see week 13 for more on Liberia.

Contact: Home – (patricksplace.org)

Suggested Resources from Prof. Carl Patrick Burrowes

Readings

Videos

Reflection / Reaction Paper: The Effects of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade on Africa

Discussion Questions / Reflection:

  1. What is the Middle Passage?
  2. Discuss the impact of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade on the continent of Africa.
  3. Discuss the differences in the ways in which Islam and Christianity were used in the enslavement of Africans.
  4. Describe how power and prosperity flowed to the Atlantic from Slave Colonies.

Reminder: Midterm / Intro section of final paper due this week

Week 11 [11/2 – 11/8]: African Societies in the Era of the Trans – Atlantic Slave Trade

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Readings: N/A; Videos: N /A

Discussion Questions / Reflection

  1. How did religion, natural resources, and location each determine the prosperity of African societies?
  2. What role did the Atlantic slave trade play within European competition during the colonial era?
  3. Discuss how African origins were transplanted in the New World and give some examples of famous places and people in the new world with African origins which are still known or practiced / used today.
Week 12 [11/9 – 11/15]: Abolition of Slave Trade

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Readings

Videos

Discussion Questions / Reflection

  1. Discuss some of the abolitionists and the impact they made in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
  2. Discuss some ways how Africans transported in the “new world” were able to revolt and resist slavery.
  3. Post a reflection summary on emancipation movements during the Trans – Atlantic Slave Trade both in Africa and in the Americas based on this weeks posted learning resources (and from your own individual research conducted outside of class discussions).

Reminder: Response / Reaction paper topic section and annotated bibliographies draft due this week.
Week 13 [11/16 – 11/ 22]: The Abolition and Impact of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade on Africa: Repatriation (Liberia and Sierra Leone) 

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Guest Speaker: CCLP – Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals: “Access to Justice and Legal Recourse” on Thursday 11/19/20.

Contact: Susan Prensky, Coordinator

New York State CCLP: (212) 791-1364

Videos

Discussion Questions / Reflection

  1. Discuss the events that led to the abolition of slaves being rerouted and resettled in Liberia and S. Leone.
  2. Discuss the impact of the abolition of the slave trade on African societies (in your response, discuss the current day impact of resettled former slaves on indigenous Liberians and Sierra Leoneans).
  3. Discuss the impact of the Trans – Atlantic Slave Trade on the Americas (in your response, you can discuss the Americas in general, a specific region such as North America, the Caribbean, Central or South America or a country).
  4. Share a personal reflection on emancipation movements in both Africa and the Americas during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade based on this weeks’ posted learning resources (and from your own personal research that you conducted outside of class discussion).
Week 14 [11/23 – 11/25 [thanksgiving break from 11/24 – 11/29]: The Trans – Atlantic Slave Trade: Africa and People of African Descent: 400 Years Later.

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

A discussion by Professor Oluremi Alapo, course instructor for HIST 374 on Human Rights issues / Challenges.

Contact:

Adjunct Faculty, Department of History, Philosophy, and Anthropology — York College / CUNY

Adjunct Faculty, Center for Ethnic Studies – BMCC (cuny.edu) / Social Sciences Department at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), CUNY

Special Advisor to the Secretary General of IHRC / Director for Global Education, Leadership Training and Youth Development – IHRC | International Human Rights Commission Relief Fund Trust (ihrc-hq.org)

Advisory Committee Member, African Views Organization

Director, Institute for Peace and Leadership, Inc. | Research, Advocacy and Workshops on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 on Gender Equality, Empowering women and Girls and SDG 16 on Peace and Justice

Readings

International Human Rights

New York State Human Rights

NYC Commission on Human Rights: Human Rights (nyc.gov)

New York City Human Rights Law: The Law – CCHR (nyc.gov)

International Decade for People of African Descent

Videos

Reflection / Reaction Paper: “Human Rights Issues / Challenges for Africans and People of African Descent in the Americas 400 Years later”.

Discussion Questions / Reflection

  1.  Respond to the discussion on Human Rights issues and challenges by Prof. Remi Alapo.
  2. Respond to the presentation on access to justice by CCLP (Coalitional of Concerned Legal Professionals) in week 13.
  3. What were the main arguments, points of reflection and recourse of action as they relate to the human rights challenges for Africans, and people of African descent according to the presenters?
  4. In your discussion for this week, include a summary on the learning resources posted above and the importance of some of these documents and activities contained in them in promoting human rights.

Reminder: Draft section of final paper on recommendations to Human Rights issues / Challenges due this week.

Week 15 [11/30 – 12/6]: “Africa and People of African Descent: 400 years later / 1619 – 2019: Year of Return back to Africa for People of African Descent”

Suggested OER / ZTC resources:

Presentation on Education and Re Writing History / Reparations by Dr. Akil Khalfani

Dr. Akil Khalfani, (Congressional Candidate, West Orange, New Jersey) and Director, Africa Institute at Essex Community College, NJ.

Zoom class lecture: Reparations! – YouTube

Pan Africanism / Reparations for Africa, Africans and People of African Descent / Bill H.R 40 (December 1, 2020).

Suggested Resources from Dr. Akil Khalfani

Movies / Documentaries:  watch these movies to understand why reparations are needed

Books: read these books to understand the need for traumatic healing

Contact:

Home | Khalfani4USCongress (akilkhalfani.com)

Readings

OER / ZTC readings on Remembering the Trans – Atlantic Slavery

Ways of Recording African History | Essay | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History (metmuseum.org)

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