Below are general descriptions for courses that I teach
African American Studies
The African-American experience spans almost 500 years in the annals of world history. The dawn of the European arrival in Africa to the advent of forced migration across the Atlantic amidst the trepidation of the most noted middle passage is only the start of the African American journey towards political, social, and cultural emancipation. This course looks at the early stages of this journey, in which African Americans will endure slavery, Jim Crow, and full citizenship by the 1960s. In addition, the course addresses the impact this narrative had on the emergence of African American religion, literature, poetry, music, art, dance, food, and science. Works by Ralph Ellison, Countee Culleen, Toni Morrison, and "Nikki" Giovanni, Angela Davis, and Tupac Shakur are a few of the works that are studied. Conversations regarding the Harlem Renaissance, as well as the rise of “black as beautiful” during the 1960s allow students to critique the changes witnessed for African Americans. This course is a hybrid of the study of English literature, religion, race, history, and film studies.
AP US History
AP United States History is a one-year college level survey course that explores the political, social, intellectual, religious, and economic developments that have shaped this nation from its origin to the present. The first semester of the course will examine the early arrival and exploitation of Native Americans by European imperialists to the reestablishment of southern culture during the period of reconstruction. The second semester of the course starts with the political and social tension of reconstruction to the end of the George W. Bush presidency. A lot of time will be placed on American social and intellectual history: gender, race, and class. Also, an emphasis will be placed on the teaching and learning of essay writing and document analysis.
American Jesus
The notion of Jesus Christ has been a transformative one over the course of history. This course looks to explore Americans sense of Jesus Christ as promulgated through the lens of American traditionalism, popular culture, music, and academic focus. TV shows such as Family Guy, South Park, and other documentaries aim to encapsulate various views of what Jesus looks like, and who he is to many people. The course will not only explore such TV shows as noted in the aforementioned, but it will also delve into the complexity of race, gender, and sexuality. Moreover, students will examine Americans fascinations with hip-hop artist, such as the late rapper Tupac Shukar, who too identified his rhythmic sounds and lyrics to that of Jesus. Artist, such as Tupac, inculcated a sense of lyrical spirit as a representation of black urban suffering. Furthermore, this course will delve into the literature of American religious historians Edward Blum and Paul Harvey whose work, The Color Christ asks the question: How can the Son of God be both a representative of white supremacy and that of racial reconciliation by the 1960s? Students will have the opportunity to read this work as well as Steven Prothero’s American Jesus. Time will also be spent discussing the religious pursuits of popular figures such as Kenye West, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Billy Graham, as well as Presidents such as George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama’s sense of American politics and religiosity. Students will enjoy the viewing and analysis of documentaries that question the reality of Jesus Christ.
AP European History
Advanced Placement European History develops an understanding of the main themes in modern European history including political and diplomatic, intellectual and cultural, and social and economic history. Analyzing historical evidence and reading critical literary narratives are integrated into the course from 1450 CE to present. Thus the course begins with the Renaissance and concludes with the demise of communism in Eastern Europe, the reunification of Germany, and the crisis of global terrorism. A significant amount of time is spent exploring the impact of intellectual and ideological history on culture, art, class, and state politics.
Black Religion
This course will examine the complex and varied Black religious experiences. The course’s goal is twofold: first, to introduce you to the history and culture of Black Religion; and second, to determine the manner in which this experience relates to the contemporary world. Specifically, this course emphasizes Black religious practices, institutions, and thought in African Americans quest for material, psychological, and spiritual freedom through a thorough examination of: African Religious Traditions; African Diaspora; Slave Religion; Black Church and Abolition Movement; Race, Class, and Gender; Black Catholicism; Black Muslims; Alternative Black Religious Practices; Crisis in the Black Church; Civil Rights and Black Power Movements; and Mega churches.
This course will examine the complex and varied Black religious experiences. The course’s goal is twofold: first, to introduce you to the history and culture of Black Religion; and second, to determine the manner in which this experience relates to the contemporary world. Specifically, this course emphasizes Black religious practices, institutions, and thought in African Americans quest for material, psychological, and spiritual freedom through a thorough examination of: African Religious Traditions; African Diaspora; Slave Religion; Black Church and Abolition Movement; Race, Class, and Gender; Black Catholicism; Black Muslims; Alternative Black Religious Practices; Crisis in the Black Church; Civil Rights and Black Power Movements; and Mega churches.