REL 240
African American Religion

Department of Philosophy and Religion
Central Michigan University  

Roger D. Hatch

  Click here for a printable pdf version of the syllabus.

REL 240:  African American Religion, is part of University Program Group IV-C.  Courses in Group IV-C focus on one or more of the major groups which experience racism and discrimination in the United States.  These courses are to:

    a.  emphasize the contributions of these groups to American society
    b.  consider the roots, behavioral and institutional manifestations, and consequences  of racism, discrimination, and stereotyping, and
    c.   indicate some of the variations within these groups.

Religion has been a major factor in the lives of groups that have experienced racism and discrimination in America.  Sometimes religion has served as a tool of those wishing to justify or extend racism, but religion also has been a means by which oppressed groups have adapted to their conditions and struggled to overcome them.  This course explores the various roles religion has played in the lives of African Americans as they have struggled to work out their identities in American society.

African American religion is the creative synthesis which Americans of African descent have constructed out of African traditional religions and European Christianity in the American context of slavery and segregation.   Through reading, discussion, and documentary films, we will work to achieve insight into African American religion and culture; a grasp of the wider dynamics of stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, and racism in American life; and an appreciation of the way the creativity of African Americans has helped to shape the ideal of America as a multicultural community.

Required Reading
Farai Chideya, Don't Believe the Hype  (DBH)
James Cone, Martin & Malcolm & America  (MMA)
Denise Dennis, Black History for Beginners  (BHFB)
Albert Raboteau, Canaan Land (CL)
13 handouts (These also are available on Reserve in Vertical File #39.  The Reserve Room is located on the 3rd floor of Park Library.)  

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Requirements

A.  Examinations:  February 28 and April 30.  These computer-scored exams will cover all the readings, lectures, videotapes, and other course materials.   (2 x 100 = 200 points)

B.  Take-Home Essays:  Essay #1, due February 19, deals with the spirituals.  Essay #2, due April 30 at the time of the Final Exam, deals with Martin King and Malcolm X.  Each is worth 150 points; assignments will be distributed about two weeks in advance and then will be posted on this website.  (2 x 150 = 300 points)      Essays must be submitted in both electronic and hard copy form.

C.  Reflection Essay.  This brief essay is due January 22.  (25 points)

D.  There are 23 Quizzes (see the Schedule of Assignments).  Each quiz covers the reading assigned for the day of the quiz and readings, lectures, and videos since the last quiz.  Each quiz is worth 20 points.  No make-up quizzes will be given, (and none will be given early); however, your 5 lowest quizzes will be dropped.  For this purpose, all absences will be treated the same.  (18 quizzes x 20 = 360 points)

E.  Movie Analysis.  Instructions will be distributed early in the semester.  Analyses must be submitted in both electronic and hard copy form.    (50 points)

F.  Field Assignments.  One emphasis in this course is on making connections between things we are studying and things occurring outside the classroom.  You may earn up to 125 points by reporting on any combination of  these things related to African American religion, life, and culture:

    a.  approved campus programs
    b.  approved movies or television or radio programs, or 
    c.  newspaper or magazine articles.

[See the details in the section of this website devoted to Field Assignments.  This section also contains a sample report.  Reports on movies must be submitted in both electronic and hard copy form.]

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Bad Weather Information

Bad Weather.  If CMU officially cancels classes, the next class session will begin exactly where we left off (including having quizzes), and then we will adjust the remaining schedule.  Call 774-7500 for official class cancellation information.

Classroom Civility.  Each student is encouraged to help create an environment during class that promotes learning, dignity, and mutual respect for everyone.  Students who speak at inappropriate times, sleep in class, display inattention, take frequent breaks, interrupt the class by coming late, engage in loud or distracting behaviors, use cell phones or pagers in class, use inappropriate language, are verbally abusive, display defiance or disrespect to others, or behave aggressively toward others could be asked to leave the class and could be subjected to disciplinary action under the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures.

ADA Statement.  CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in educational programs, activities, or services.  Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should first register with the office of Student Disability Services (Park Library 120, telephone 774-3018, TDD #2568) and then contact the instructor as soon as possible.

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Grading

A.  Exams                            200 points   (19%)
B.  Essays #1 & #2              300 points   (28%)
C.  Reflection Essay               25 points   (  2%)
D.  Quizzes                           360 points   (34%)
E.  Movie Analysis                  50 points   ( 5%)
E.  Field Assignments            125 points   (12%)
              Total                     1,060 points

A = 90% and above
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
E = less than 60%

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Daily Schedule

                   INTRODUCTION
M  Jan   8    Introduction to course requirements

W  Jan 10    Introduction to African American religion
                     read:  CL ix-x + Handouts #1-2 (King) distributed in class

M  Jan  15    Martin Luther King Day:  no class

SLAVERY, GOVERNMENT, & RELIGION IN USA

W  Jan  17   Slavery and the slave trade
                    read:  CL 3-8 + BHFB 4-41  (Quiz #1)

M  Jan  22  The development of slavery in the United States
                   Reflection Essay due
                   read:  Handout #3 (Bennett)

W  Jan  24   U.S. Founding documents and race
                     read:  BHFB 42-64  (Quiz #2)

M  Jan  29   Euro-American Christianity and slavery
                    read:  CL 14-20 + Handout #4 (Paris)  (Quiz #3)

W  Jan  31   The study of religion
                     read:  Handout #5 (Chidester)  (Quiz #4)

RELIGION AMONG ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS

M  Feb   5   The "Invisible Institution"
                    read:  CL 42-60  (Quiz #5)

W  Feb   7  The context of the Spirituals
                    read:  Handout #6 (Cone -- Part A)  (Quiz #6)

M  Feb 12  The role of the Spirituals
                    read:  CL 8-11 + Handout #7 (Cone -- Part B) + Handout #9 (Wilmore)   (Quiz #7)

W  Feb  14   The themes of the Spirituals
                     read:  Handout #8 (Cone -- Part C) + Handout #10 (Lincoln & Mamiya)   (Quiz #8)

RESISTANCE, REBELLION, & ESCAPE

M  Feb  19  Escape:  The Underground Railroad
                   Essay #1 due; no reading; no quiz

W  Feb 21  Rebellion:  The example of Denmark Vesey
                   read:  BHFB 65-83 + Handout #11 (Wilmore)  (Quiz #9)

M  Feb 26  Resistance:  Religion among free African Americans
                   read:  BHFB 84-86 + CL 21-39  (Quiz #10)

W  Feb 28   Midterm Examination

RACE & RACIAL DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THE CIVIL WAR

M  Mar 12   Basic terms and concepts
                    read:  BHFB 87-113  (Quiz #11)

W  Mar 14  3 institutional forms of racism in America
                    read:  BHFB 114-153  (Quiz #12)
                    Last day to turn in first Field Assignment Report

M  Mar 19   From farm to factory
                    read:  CL 61-79, 82-85 + Handout #12 ("Up From Georgia")   (Quiz #13)

W  Mar 21   Creation of the metropolitan color line
                    read:  DBH xi-xx, 3-18, 35-58, 80-91  (Quiz #14)

M  Mar  26   Why can't we all live together?
                     read:  DBH 115-125, 133-135, 140-146, 154-162, 182-227, 241-252   (Quiz #15)

W  Mar 28  Who is African American?
                    read:  BHFB 154-185 + Handout #13 (Lincoln: "Coming...")   (Quiz #16)

AFRICAN AMERICAN RELIGION SINCE THE CIVIL WAR

M  April 2   New religious groups
                   read:  CL 85-103, 124-135 + MMA 1-17  (Quiz #17)

W  April 4  A new musical form:  gospel music
                   no reading; no quiz

M  April 9   The early years of Martin King & Malcolm X
                    read:  CL 104-121 + MMA ix-xi, 19-57  (Quiz #18)

W  April 11   Martin King:  "I Have a Dream"
                      read:  MMA 58-70, 76-88   (Quiz #19)

M  April 16   Malcolm X:  "I See a Nightmare"
                     read:  MMA 89-119  (Quiz #20)

W  April 18  The theologies of Martin King & Malcolm X
                     read:  MMA 120-131, 151-160  (Quiz #21)

M  April 23  Changes for Malcolm X & Martin King
                     read:  MMA 181-243  (Quiz #22)

W  April 25  Conclusions and contributions
                     read:  MMA 244-297, 315-318  (Quiz #23)
                    last day to turn in new or revised Field Assignment Reports

M  April 30    Final Examination at 2:00
                      Essay #2 due at beginning of in-class examination

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