<p>Which history class sounds more interesting to you:</p>
<p>Black Women of the 20th Century</p>
<p>OR</p>
<p>Civil War and Reconstruction</p>
<p>?</p>
<p>Being a Civil War buff I would go for the latter. This being said, what could you really expect out of the "Black Women of the 20th Century course? I am sure it will spend 3 or 4 classes on Rosa Parks, then delve into how the women were mistreated in Motown, touch slightly on how the African American woman is the backbone of most black families then end up with a chapter on Oprah and recent black actresses with recent successes such as Halle Barry and Jada Pinkett Smith. Not knowing the course it sounds already like it might be a little sexist (most woman’s studies courses tend to be like this) Finally, it sounds more like a seminar than an entire course. I often wonder how they can cram 3 days of material into 15 weeks.</p>
<p>Black Women of the 20th Century:
This course surveys the experiences and expressive culture of African American women across the long decades of the 20th century. Punctuated by great migrations, economic dislocation, wars, and social transformations, the 20th century witnessed the emergence of Black women as political and social activists, creative artists and writers, and professionals in a broad spectrum of occupations. The course is designed to highlight particular themes within a chronological framework. Special attention focuses on the intellectual and organizational work of Black women and the development of Black Women’s Studies in the decades since the modern Civil Rights and Black Power movements. The assigned texts range from scholarly biographies and monographs to autobiographical writings. </p>
<p>Civil War and Reconstruction:
The course will emphasize the origins of the Civil War, its revolutionary nature, and its immediate and long-term consequences for the South and the nation. We will focus on the key social, political, and economic questions of the era, with particular attention to slavery and emancipation. </p>
<p>EVALUATION METHOD: Several short response papers, class attendance and participation, 5-7 page analytical essay, final exam.</p>
<p>READING: Readings may include:
Robert Cook, Civil War America
James McPherson, What They Fought For
Willie Lee Rose, Rehearsal for Reconstruction
Ira Berlin, et. al., The Black Military Experience in the Civil War
Virginia Ingraham Burr, ed., The Secret Eye: The Journal of Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas
Eric Foner, A Short History of Reconstruction</p>
<p>I’d swing for the Civil War class</p>
<p>I’d go for the black women one, it seems like a more rare opportunity</p>
<p>Civil war-</p>
<p>You can let the feminazi’s try to indoctrinate you on a time schedule leisurely to you; you don’t need a class for it!</p>