AFROAM 297A (#10570)
Black Springfield Matters
An Introduction to New Afrikan Urban Studies
A course taught by Amilcar Shabazz

¬ Syllabus for Spring 2017 ¬

Seminar class meets on Tuesdays 4:00PM – 6:30PM in New Africa House Room 26 from 1/23 – 5/02/2017

Office: 330 New Africa House
Conference hours: Tuesdays 1-3PM, and by appointment

Phone: Call the Du Bois Department office at 413-545-2751

E-mail: shabazz “at” afroam.umass.edu [Please put AFROAM 297 in Subject line of your email communication with me] 

Description: This course will acquaint you with a variety of disciplinary tools for studying African American life in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, our urban neighbor just 25 miles away. We will start with a broad survey of the city’s history followed by an exploration of its existence today as a multicultural community, and a regional center for banking, finance, and courts. The course is networked to Springfield’s Pan African Historical Museum USA, and community engaged research will be emphasized.

OVERVIEW & LEARNING OUTCOMES

“Black Springfield Matters” is an interdisciplinary investigation of the complexities of the African American urban experience through a focus on Springfield and the Western Massachusetts metro area. Students are expected to learn the following:

• The general history of urbanization and its associated economic and demographic processes, particularly in Springfield, MA
• The structures and expressions of urbanization and urban life associated with modern and postmodern cities
• The structures and expressions of urbanization and urban life associated with cities of the developed realms/core and those associated with cities of the less developed realm/periphery
• The basic research questions and agendas associated with the various disciplines contributing to our understanding of urban issues
• The general expressions of urbanization and urban life in Springfield, MA
• Effectively employ contemporary social science methodology in the analysis of urban issues

• Identify and utilize appropriate primary data, including census materials, for the analysis of urban issues of black and brown people in Springfield, MA
• Apply your understanding of urban issues to the development and critical analysis of programs and policies appropriate to addressing contemporary social and economic problems of African Americans
• Community-based participation in the development of programs and policies that contribute to the social, economic, political, and environmental improvement of their communities and cities.

We will utilize a variety of curricular approaches and materials from historical monographs, to oral histories and memoirs, to film and fictional texts. The semester midterm exam and the final term paper will measure your learning from the required reading, directed research, and from the information delivered in the class conversations, discussions, and lectures.

There are no prerequisites but enrollment is limited. The course will utilize a variety of curricular approaches and materials from historical monographs, to oral histories and memoirs, to film and fictional texts.  The course involves writing and critical thinking.

REQUIRED TEXTS

All books or articles will be made available online or put on reserve at the Du Bois Library.  Al — see the SCHEDULE tab above for links to the reading

ASSESSMENTS & ACCOUNTABILITY

Course Requirements and Grades:

Students are expected to attend class, take notes, and intellectually address the subject matter.  To reflect the importance we place upon regular attendance and attention, a Class Citizenship score will be computed at the end of the term based upon a formula measuring attendance, attentiveness, and punctuality.  Note, grades tend to correlate with attendance and attentiveness. Without doubt, the best way to achieve a good grade in this class is to read the required text before attending the appropriate lecture.  Without having read the assigned material a student has no context for the class presentation and will miss out.

Assignments, & Assessments of Learning:

In addition to the class citizenship grade, there will be  an Africanapedia/wiki assignment, and a community engagement project. We will design an assessment formula tailored to your specific needs and interests.

For more information, see http://websites.umass.edu/shabazz/africanapedia

Previous iterations of this class:

AFROAM 297a (#60572)
¬ Syllabus for Spring 2015 ¬
Class met on Thursdays at 4:00PM in New Africa House Room 21.

AFROAM 297a (#38063)
¬ Syllabus for Fall 2013 ¬
Class met on Thursdays at 7:00PM, in New Africa House 128.