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COLONIALISM,FREEDOM,ANDAFRICANAMERICANRELIGIONS(RELS370:Adv.TopicsinAmericanReligion)

TR10:50AM-12:05PM(MYBK119)

IeshiaEvansarrestedbyBatonRougepolicein#BlackLivesMatterprotest(PhotobyJonBachman,2016)

CONTACTProfessor: Dr.MatthewJ.CresslerOffice: 4CGlebeStreet,Room105Hours: W11:00AM-12:30PM,R3:00PM-4:30PMEmail: cresslermj@cofc.eduPhone: 843.953.1026DESCRIPTIONFreedomisanironicideainAfricanAmericanreligioushistory.AfricanAmericanStudiesscholarEddieGlaudedefinesthecategory"AfricanAmericanreligion"asapracticeoffreedominthemidstofwhitesupremacy.Atthesametime,theveryconceptoffreedomwasforgedinanageofempires,colonialconquest,andtransatlanticslavery.Whatis“freedom”andhowisitconnectedtocolonialism?WhatcanthestudyofAfricanAmericanreligionsteachusaboutfreedomstrugglesinthepastandinthepresent?Thisupper-levelseminarwillexplorethesequestions(andmore)throughclosereadingsofprimarysourcesandcontemporaryscholarshipattheintersectionofAfricanAmericanStudiesandReligiousStudies.ThecoursewillcoveranarrayofreligionsacrosstheAfricandiasporarangingfromYorubatraditions,Voudou,andconjuretoIslam,Judaism,andChristianity.

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OBJECTIVES1) Introduce“religion”and“race”asmodernconstructedcategories2) Interrogatetherelationshipbetween“freedom”and“colonialism”3) SituateAfricanAmericanreligionsandfreedomstrugglesinthecontextofcolonialism4) Engageandimaginepossibleworldsbeyondtheconfinesofpresentcircumstances5) Honeyourcriticalreading,thinking,andwritingskillsthroughdisciplinedengagement

withtexts,constructiveconversationwithclassmates,andcreative/writingprojectsEVALUATION20% AttendanceandParticipation

• Thisisaseminarand,assuch,mostofourtimewillbespentindiscussion.• Ifyouareworriedaboutparticipation,meetwithme(ASAP)tostrategize.• Qualitycountsmorethanquantity,butyoumustspeaktocontribute.• Youcannotparticipateifyouarenotpresent.

10% DiscussionBoard• YouwillpostonourOAKSdiscussionboardby11:59PMpriortoeachclass.• Yourpostshoulddotwothings:

1. Rearticulatethereading’smostimportantpointinyourownwords.2. Poseaquestionraisedbythereadingforfurtherdiscussioninclass.

• Yourpostswillbegradedonthefollowingscale:ü (100%)ü - (75%)

(0%)• Pleasereadyourpeers’postsinpreparationforclass.

10% DiscussionLeaders• Eachofyouwillbeassignedtoasmallgroup.• YoursmallgroupwillleadoneclassdiscussiononJOHNSON.• Youwillmeetwithmetheprecedingweektoprepareyourdiscussion.

10% CriticalAnalysisEssay• Youwillwritea4-5page(double-spaced,12-pointfont)essaythatanalyzes

aprimarysourceinlightofitscorrespondingchapterinJOHNSON.• Youressaywillbedueonthedayassignedtoyoursmallgroup.

10% FieldTripEssay• Youwillwritea4-5page(double-spaced,12-pointfont)essayanalyzing

yourownexperiencesatOyotunjiAfricanVillageinlightofourcourse.• ItisdueoneweekafterourtriptoOyotunji.

30% FreedomDreamingUn/Essay:yourfinalassignmentwillbetoeitherwriteanessay(8-10pages)orcreateanunessay(project+4-5pagecreator’sstatement)thatplacesanartistoractivistindialoguewiththequestionsandthemesofthecourse.

• Meetwithmetoyoursubject(5%)byTuesday,February27.• Submityourun/essayproposal(5%)byTuesday,April3.• Yourfinalproject(20%)isduebyTuesday,May1.

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ExtraCredit• Toreceiveextracredityoumayattendaspecifiedextracreditevent.

SpecifiedeventsareindicatedinthesyllabusbytheacronymEC.Inordertoreceivecredit,youmustattendsaideventandwriteashortpaperreflectingonit(1-page,double-spaced,12-pointfont).Yourreflectionisdueviaemailwithinoneweekofsaidevent.

GRADINGSCALEA=93-100 B+=87-89 C+=77-79 D+=67-69 F=0-60A-=90-92 B=83-86 C=73-76 D=63-66 B-=80-82 C-=70-72 D-=60-62REQUIREDSinceourcollectivesuccessinthisclassdependsoncarefulandcriticalreadingofallassignedmaterials,itisimperativethatyouhaveyourownphysicalcopiesofalltexts.Iexpectyoutoactivelyengagethetexts(underlinearguments,starkeypoints,writeexasperatedcommentsinthemargins,etc.)whilereadingoutsideofclassandtobringthemwithyoutoclasstofacilitatediscussion.Therearefourrequiredbooksandonerequiredmusicalrecording.AllthebooksareavailablefromtheCofCBookstore.Aslongasyou’reabletolistentoHamiltoninitsentirety,Idonotmindwhatmediumyouuse.AllotherreadingswillbepostedourOAKSsite(underContent).Pleaseprintthemandbringhardcopieswithyoutoclasswhennecessary.Youwillreceivea0forattendanceifyoufailtobringyourassignedmaterialonanygivenclassday.Digitalcopiesareprohibitedwithoutpermissionofprofessor(seeTechnologypolicybelow).Booksareonreserveinthelibrary,buttoactivelyengagelibrarycopiesyouwillneedtophotocopythem.Ifcostisaconcern,pleaseseeme.

• SylvesterA.JOHNSON,AfricanAmericanReligions,1500-2000:Colonialism,Democracy,andFreedom(CambridgeUniversityPress,2015)

• Ta-NehisiCoates&BrianStelfreeze,BLACKPANTHER:ANationUnderOurFeet,Books1-3(MarvelComics,2016-2017)

• Lin-ManuelMiranda,HAMILTON:AnAmericanMusical(OriginalCastRecording)RECOMMENDEDSincethisisanadvancedtopicscourse,Iencourageyoutoreadbeyondwhatisrequiredofyou.Tothatend,Ihavelistedthreebooksasrecommended.GlaudeishighlyrecommendedforstudentswhohavenotalreadytakenRELS270:AfricanAmericanReligion.WewillreadexcerptsofbothKelleyandTaylorthissemester,buttheentirebooksareworthreading.

• RobinD.G.Kelley,FreedomDreams:TheBlackRadicalTradition(2002)• EddieS.GlaudeJr.,AfricanAmericanReligion:AVeryShortIntroduction(2014)• Keeanga-YamahttaTaylor,From#BlackLivesMatterToBlackLiberation(2016)

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EXPECTATIONS(wewillcrafttheseinclasstogether)ForMe:

• • •

ForYou:

• • •

ATTENDANCEANDLATEPOLICIES

• Youcanonlyparticipateinourclassifyouarephysicallypresent,soattendanceisessentialtosuccess.Iwilltakeattendancedaily.Ifyoumissmorethanfiveclassesyouwillfailandbedroppedfromtheclass.

• Classbeginspromptlyat10:50AMonTuesdaysandThursdays.IexpectyoutobeseatedandpreparedforclasswhentheproverbialiPhonestrikes10:50.Pointswillbedeductedifyouarrivelateorleavebeforetheendofclass.

• Assignmentsaredueatthetimespecifiedontheassignmentitself.Anyassignmentturnedinafterthedesignateddeadlineisconsideredlate.Youwillbepenalizedonelettergrade(10points)foreachdaythatyourassignmentislate.Daysarecalculatedby24-hourperiodsthatbeginwiththeoriginalduedateandtime.

• Nooneismoresympathetictothebusynessofourcurricularandco-curricularschedulesthanIam(Ihaveawife,threedaughters,adog,afterall).Nevertheless,itiscrucialthatwealllearntoplanaheadandbalanceourrespectiveresponsibilities.Deadlinesforotherclassesandotherpriorcommitmentsarenotacceptableexcusesformissedclassorlatework.

• Thesamegoesfortechnologicalproblems.Weareincreasinglydependentonourdevicesandothertechnologies.However,asIknowyouknow,technologycanfailus.Computerscrash,iPadsbreak,serversaresometimesdown,etc.Again,whileI’msympathetic,technicaldifficultiesarenotacceptableexcusesforlateassignmentsormissedclass.Iexpectyoutocompleteassignmentswellenoughinadvancetofactorinthesevariablesandremember,always(ALWAYS!)backupyourdocuments!!!

TECHNOLOGYStudentsareexpectedtohaveaCofCemailaddresslinkedtoOAKSthattheycheckregularly.Emailismymostfrequentandeffectivemeansofcommunication.Pleaseturnyourcellphonesonsilentwhenyouentertheclassroom.Useofcellphonesisstrictlyprohibitedandwillresultina0forattendance.Ipreferthatyouusepaperandpen/cilasyournote-takingdevices(crayonsandmarkersalsoacceptable).Ifyouprefertotakenotesonalaptoportablet,Iaskthatyousignanagreementwithmeforresponsibleuseandthatyousitintherearoftheclassroom,soas

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nottodistractyourclassmates.Ifyouruseofdevicesdisruptsourclass,Ireservetherighttoembarrassyouand/oraskyoutoleave.(Seemeifyouwishtosignanagreement.)DISABILITYACCOMODATIONIfyouhave,orthinkyoumayhave,adocumenteddisability(physical,learning,psychiatric,visual,hearing,etc.)pleasevisittheCenterforDisabilityServices.TheCentercanprovideyouwiththeinformationanddocumentationnecessarytoarrangeaccommodationsyoumayrequire.TheCenterforDisabilityServices/StudentsNeedingAccessParity(SNAP)canbeaccessedvia:http://disabilityservices.cofc.edu/.RELIGIOUSACCOMODATIONTheCollegeacknowledgesthatreligiouspracticesdifferfromtraditiontotraditionandthatthedemandsofreligiousobservanceinsometraditionsmaycauseconflictswithstudentschedules.Inaffirmingthisdiversity,theCollegesupportstheconceptof“reasonableaccommodationforreligiousobservance”inregardtoclassattendance,andtheschedulingofexaminationsandotheracademicworkrequirements,unlesstheaccommodationwouldcreateanunduehardshipontheCollege.OurfullStatementonReligiousAccommodationsPolicycanbefoundhere:http://president.cofc.edu/community-relations/rlc/accommodation.phpTHECENTERFORSTUDENTLEARNINGTheCSL,locatedonthefirstfloorofthelibrary,offersawidevarietyoftutoringandotheracademicresourcesthatsupportmanycoursesofferedattheCollege.Servicesincludewalk-intutoring,byappointmenttutoring,studystrategiesappointments,PeerAcademicCoaching(PAC),andSupplementalInstruction(SI).AllservicesaredescribedandalllabschedulesarepostedontheCSLwebsite:http://csl.cofc.edu/.WRITINGLABIencourageyoutotakeadvantageoftheWritingLabintheCenterforStudentLearning(AddlestoneLibrary,firstfloor).Trainedwritingconsultantscanhelpwithwritingforallcourses;theyofferone-to-oneconsultationsthataddresseverythingfrombrainstorminganddevelopingideastocraftingstrongsentencesanddocumentingsources.Formore,visithttp://csl.cofc.edu/labs/writing-lab/.HONORCODEANDACADEMICINTEGRITYLying,cheating,attemptedcheating,andplagiarismareviolationsofourHonorCodethat,whenidentified,areinvestigated.Eachincidentwillbeexaminedtodeterminethedegreeofdeceptioninvolved.Incidentswheretheinstructordeterminesthestudent’sactionsarerelatedmoretoamisunderstandingwillbehandledbytheinstructor.Awritteninterventiondesignedtohelppreventthestudentfromrepeatingtheerrorwillbegiventothestudent.Theintervention,submittedbyformandsignedbothbytheinstructorandthestudent,willbeforwardedtotheDeanofStudentsandplacedinthestudent’sfile.Casesofsuspectedacademicdishonestywillbereporteddirectlybytheinstructorand/orothershavingknowledgeoftheincidenttotheDeanofStudents.AstudentfoundresponsiblebytheHonorBoardforacademicdishonestywillreceiveaXXFinthecourse,

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indicatingfailureofthecourseduetoacademicdishonesty.Thisgradewillappearonthestudent’stranscriptfortwoyearsafterwhichthestudentmaypetitionfortheXXtobeexpunged.TheFispermanent.Thestudentmayalsobeplacedondisciplinaryprobation,suspended(temporaryremoval)orexpelled(permanentremoval)fromtheCollegebytheHonorBoard.Studentsshouldbeawarethatunauthorizedcollaboration—workingtogetherwithoutpermission—isaformofcheating.Unlesstheinstructorspecifiesthatstudentscanworktogetheronanassignment,quizand/ortest,nocollaborationduringthecompletionoftheassignmentispermitted.Otherformsofcheatingincludepossessingorusinganunauthorizedstudyaid(whichcouldincludeaccessinginformationviaacellphoneorcomputer),copyingfromothers’exams,fabricatingdata,andgivingunauthorizedassistance.Researchconductedand/orpaperswrittenforotherclassescannotbeusedinwholeorinpartforanyassignmentinthisclasswithoutobtainingpriorpermissionfromtheinstructor.StudentscanfindthecompleteHonorCodeandallrelatedprocessesintheStudentHandbookathttp://studentaffairs.cofc.edu/honor-system/studenthandbook/index.php

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COURSESCHEDULE(subjecttochangewithadvancenotice)INTRODUCTIONWeek1–Whatisthiscourse?Tuesday,January9Thursday,January11 JOHNSON,IntroductionandConclusion(14pp.)Week2–“Freedom”andFreedomMonday,January15:MartinLutherKingDay Sekou,“MartinLutherKing’sRadicalLegacy”–OAKSTuesday,January16

Patterson,“Freedom,Slavery,andtheModernConstructionofRights”(36pp.)Thursday,January18

Lorde,“TheMaster’sToolsWillNeverDismantletheMaster’sHouse”(4pp.)–OAKSKelley,“‘WhenHistorySleeps’:ANewBeginning”(12pp.)–OAKS

EC:Thursday,January18@6PM:Dr.ShariRabinandDr.MatthewCressler,“FrontierJewsandBlackCatholics:NewBooksinAmericanReligion”(ArnoldHall,JWST)(UN)FREEDOMWeek3–Race,Religion,andColonialismTuesday,January23

West,“IgnobleParadoxofModernity”(4pp.)–OAKSDuBois,“TheSoulsofWhiteFolk”(16pp.)–OAKS

Thursday,January25 Baldwin,“WhiteRacismorWorldCommunity?”(7pp.)–OAKSEC:Thursday,January25@6PM:Dr.CliftonGranby,“ResilientInjustices,UnyieldingResolve”(RandolphHall–AlumniMemorialHall)Week4–ColonialGovernanceandReligiousSubjectivityTuesday,January30

JOHNSON,Chapter3(49pp.)Thursday,February1 Equiano,“TraditionalIboReligion”(6pp.)–OAKSEC:Thursday,February1at6:30PM–“TheFirst365:AnalyzingtheFirstYearoftheTrumpAdministration,”moderatedbyMSNBC’sJoyAnnReidWeek5–DemocracyandMythTuesday,February6

HAMILTONAdichie,“TheDangerofaSingleStory”(VIDEO)–OAKS

Thursday,February8Monteiro,“Race-ConsciousCasting&theErasureoftheBlackPast”(10pp.)–OAKSResponsestoMonteiro’s“Race-ConsciousCastingandtheErasureoftheBlackPastinLin-ManuelMiranda’sHamilton”–OAKS

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FREEDOMSTRUGGLESWeek6–WhiteRevolutionandBlackSettlerColonialismTuesday,February13 Johnson,Chapter4(49pp.)

Group#1:DiscussionLeadersThursday,February15 VISIT:AveryCenterinExile(AddlestoneLibrary,Rm.360)FIELDTRIP:RyanCoogler’sBlackPanther(2018)Week7–BlackTheologyandWhiteRedemptionTuesday,February20 JOHNSON,Chapter5(61pp.) Group#2:DiscussionLeadersThursday,February22 Cooper,“EthicsoftheNegroQuestion”(10pp.)–OAKS Group#4:CriticalAnalysisDueWeek8–Anti-ColonialismandStateRepressionTuesday,February27 JOHNSON,Chapter6(51pp.) Group#3:DiscussionLeadersThursday,March1 F.B.I.,“MoorishScienceTempleofAmerica”–OAKS Groups#1-2:CriticalAnalysisDueWeek9–Counterintelligenceandthe“NegroRebellion”Tuesday,March6 JOHNSON,Chapter7(51pp.)

Group#4:DiscussionLeadersThursday,March8 King,“BeyondVietnam”–OAKS Group#3:CriticalAnalysisDueFREEDOMDREAMSWeek10–WakandaandDemocraticDreamsTuesday,March13

BLACKPANTHER,Books1-2Thursday,March15

BLACKPANTHER,Book3Monday,March19–Friday,March23:NOCLASS(SpringBreak)

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Week11–OyotunjiandYorubaDreamsTuesday,March27

Long,“WhatisAfricatoMe?”(17pp.)–OAKS EC:Tuesday,March27:Dr.SimranSinghComestoCampusThursday,March29

Hucks,“OyotunjiAfricanVillage”(58pp.)–OAKS FIELDTRIP:OyotunjiAfricanVillageWeek12–#BlackLivesMatterandDreamsofBlackLiberationTuesday,April3

Taylor,“BlackLivesMatter:AMovement,NotaMoment”(37pp.)–OAKSThursday,April5

Taylor,IntroductiontoHowWeGetFree(14pp.)–OAKS“TheCombaheeRiverCollectiveStatement”–OAKS

Week13–#BlackLivesMatterandDreamsofBlackLiberationTuesday,April10

“AVisionforBlackLives:PolicyDemandsforBlackPower,Freedom,Justice”–OAKSCullors,Khan,andAlhassen,“NoBan,NoWalls,NoPrison,NoCops”–OAKS

Thursday,April12:NOCLASSWeek14–FergusonandFreedomDreamsTuesday,April17

Sekou,“TheLiberationTheologyofFerguson”(VIDEO)–OAKSThursday,April19 Kelley,“‘WhenHistoryWakes’:ANewBeginning”(4pp.)–OAKSFinalProjectDue:Tuesday,May1(11:00AM)