Week 6: Black Americans

Week 6: Black American
Mon 3.1/Wed 3.3
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Watch—"Say It Loud: Are You ‘African-American’ or ‘Black’?" from PBS Due: REFLECTION 2

Upcoming:

Week 7: Trump Supporters
Mon 3.8/Wed 3.10
Class: Multimedia presentations; Watch—"Donald Trump: Fifty Supporters Explain Why They Love Him" from BBC News
Due: EXPLICATION

Identity News 2.27

• GEN Z: One in six Gen Zers identify as something other than heterosexual (CBS News) 
• TRUMP SUPPORTERS: Trump die-hards remain convinced the 2020 election was stolen from them (CNN)
• BLACK AMERICANS: More Black Americans invested for the first time in 2020 than any other time (Yahoo! News)
• EVANGELICALS: Evangelical leaders concerned about the rise of Christian Nationalists in their ranks (NPR)
  
• VEGETARIANS: Here are the best cities for vegetarians (TheStreet)

Reflection 2: Yours for the Taking?—On Cultural Appropriation

Cultural appropriation is the act of one culture "incorporating" aspects of another culture into its own. This differs from cultural exchanges in which American hip-hop and Bollywood-style dancing might incorporate each other's moves or Korean and Mexican cuisines sharing ingredients and techniques. In cultural appropriation, a dominant group assimilates aspects of a foreign culture without regard to their original use or intent. In other words, parts of one culture might be absorbed into another in insensitive, even offensive, ways, often for their perceived cool factor. Thus, we've seen white hipsters embrace Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos, the popularization of sacred Maori symbols as tattoos, and the labeling of a clean, Asian-influenced interior design as "Zen-style." Additionally, Black Americans have endured the absorption of their culture (cornrows, slang, etc.) for consumption in mainstream white culture, while American Indians are still routinely exoticized. Cultural appropriators often claim they are simply showing an appreciation for those cultures—“I’m actually honoring that culture.” But what’s the line between appreciating a culture and disrespecting it? What obligation, if any, do we have to first educate ourselves? For example, can we truly understand the traditions of Ojibwa dreamcatchers when they're worn as car charms, or respect Hindu and Buddhist principles when we do yoga with goats? Is it possible to appreciate another culture in a more respectful manner? How can that be achieved?

 

 Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "The Cultural Appropriation Primer" (Medium)
• "Cultural Appropriation—Is it Ever Okay?" (Refinery29)
• "The Problematic Cultural Appropriation of Polynesian Tattooing in the Wave of 21st Century Tattoo Revival" (Rampages)
• "The Awful History Behind Why Hipsters Think it's Okay to Wear Headdresses (Mic)
• "Cultural Appropriation: How Not to Celebrate the Day of the Dead" (TalkDeath) 
• "Is It Cultural Appropriation When It's Queer Culture?" (Pride)
 

Required:

• MLA Style
• Approximately 300 words
• Works cited 

Due: Wed 3.3 (via Canvas)

Week 5: Democrats

Week 5: Democrats
Mon 2.22/Wed 2.24
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Watch—"From White Supremacy to Barack Obama: The History of the Democratic Party" from Vox; Lecture—"Close Reads: A How-To"
Due: SYNTHESIS ESSAY

Upcoming:

Week 6: Black Americans
Mon 3.1/Wed 3.3
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Watch—"Say It Loud: Are You ‘African-American’ or ‘Black’?" from PBS
Due: REFLECTION 2

Identity News 2.16

• QAnon: Latest conspiracy theory claims Covid-19 vaccine turns people gay or trans (Advocate)
• Black Americans: Survey says very few Black Americans are atheists (FiendlyAtheists)
• Baby Boomers: Newly-vaccinated, Boomers are wondering how to venture out into the world again (Wall Street Journal)
• Asian Americans: People are volunteering to escort elderly Asian Americans to keep them safe (CNN)
• Millennials: Now, Gen Z is hating on Millennials, too (TheWalrus) 

Synthesis Essay: On Native Identity

Indigenous. Native. Indian. American.

Contemporary Native American identity can be a tricky to navigate. As explored in Tommy Orange’s There There, many of today’s Native community struggle to rectify their identity with their culture's past. But how do these fictional accounts intersect with accounts of real-life Native Americans? What about their struggle is fictionalized and what is genuine? In a synthesis essay, bring together one main character from There There (e.g. Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield) and at least three of the following articles. Find the common thread between all the texts so that a “snapshot” of contemporary Indian identity emerges.

Choose at least three of the following texts to synthesize with a character from There There.:

1. “My Mother is Native American, but I Look White. My Identity is More than My DNA.” (Washington Post)
2. “Who Decides Who Counts as Native American?” (New York Times)
3. “Native American is Not My Race—It's Who I Am” (Vice)
4. “OpDocs: A Conversation with Native Americans on Race” (New York Times)
5. “Indigenous Voices: Life as a Young and Native American”(Vice)

The best papers will:

• Stay within the parameters of the prompt
• Have a concise thesis illustrating how a There There character and real-life Native Americans intersect
  
• Conclude with a summation of your points
• Be in MLA Style  

Required:

• MLA Style
• Approximately 750 words
• Works cited 

 

Due: Wed 2.24