{"id":14,"date":"2012-09-05T11:20:59","date_gmt":"2012-09-05T15:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/template\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2026-03-19T08:06:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T12:06:25","slug":"course-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/polssdw\/courses\/course-2\/","title":{"rendered":"African American Politics and Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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African American Politics and Policy<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Time and Location<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tuesdays 1:55pm-2:45pm and Thursdays 1:55pm-3:50pm in Little Hall room 109<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Description and Goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This course will examine the political behavior of African Americans in the United States from the era of disfranchisement to the current era of the first black president.\u00a0 We will begin the semester with a discussion of the denial of \u201cuniversal freedom\u201d to African Americans during the 1800s.\u00a0 We will then discuss the civil rights and political gains African Americans experienced during the modern civil rights and black power movements in both the Democratic and Republican parties.\u00a0 Our course will then compare and contrast the events of the current justice and political movements to those of the past.\u00a0 This is a very exciting time for African American politics.\u00a0 We elected a Black president for two terms and now have nominated the first African American\/Caribbean\/Asian American female vice president.\u00a0 In addition, African Americans have made strong bids in gubernatorial elections (including Andrew Gillum in Florida) and political novices have won elections in many states.\u00a0 However, the police killings of black men and women have continued in recent years.\u00a0 Recently, we witnessed the beginning of a significant movement for racial justice that was rooted in a movement founded by three African American women \u2013 the Black Lives Matter Movement.\u00a0 In recent years, women of all races have protested gender harassment, violence and discrimination in another movement founded by a Black woman (Tarana Burke)-the #MeToo Movement.\u00a0 We will discuss all of these issues and many more this semester.\u00a0 I welcome your feedback on the course if you have any questions or problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Course Objectives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The learning objectives for the course are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Trace the history of major actors, developments, and political movements in African Americans politics since the modern civil rights movement.<\/li>\n
  • Distinguish the ideological and other differences between Democratic and Republican candidates.<\/li>\n
  • Explain the campaign tactics that African Americans used to win local, state, and national political offices.<\/li>\n
  • Determine whether African American women have been disadvantaged by both their race and gender when running for and serving in political offices.<\/li>\n
  • Detail the impact of public policies, such as affirmative action, on African Americans.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Required Textbooks and Readings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    American Politics and the African American Quest for Universal Freedom<\/em>.\u00a0 Eighth Edition.\u00a0 Hanes Walton Jr., Robert C. Smith, and Sherri L. Wallace (New York: Routledge, 2017).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    My Grandfather\u2019s Son: A Memoir<\/em>.\u00a0 Clarence Thomas (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2007).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    The Loneliness of the Black Republican<\/em>. Leah Wright Rigueur (Princeton University Press, 2015).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Until I Am Free: Fannie Lou Hamer\u2019s Enduring Message to America<\/em>. Keisha N. Blain. (New York: Beacon Press, 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    There are also some required readings on the course reserves page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Grading Information and Scale<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Your Grade will be Based on:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Class Participation (10%):\u00a0<\/strong>Class participation and attendance are extremely important in this seminar.\u00a0 Each student is expected to read the assigned materials before class and participate in class discussions.\u00a0 After three unexcused classes are missed, you will not receive the percentage points for class participation.\u00a0\u00a0It is your responsibility to sign an attendance roster that will be given out at the beginning of each class session.\u00a0\u00a0If you forget to, sign it during the next class.\u00a0 Also, try to get to class on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Class Material Papers (40% or 20% each):\u00a0<\/strong>You must write an approximately eight-page paper on the topics listed on canvas.\u00a0 This paper will require an analysis of the assigned readings, lectures, and other class materials on this topic and answer the questions that are listed on canvas.\u00a0 Please don\u2019t forget to include citations in your paper. Use parenthetical citations in the paper that include the person\u2019s last name, year of publication, and page number-i.e., (Wright, 2020, 20).\u00a0 Then, include a Bibliography page at the end of the paper that lists your sources.\u00a0 The sources can be formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style, M.L.A.<\/em>, or the American Psychological Association (A.P.A.<\/em>) format.\u00a0 See the sources in the textbooks for examples.\u00a0 These papers are due on: February 3rd<\/sup> and February 24th<\/sup>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Justices Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas Paper 20% (due on March 17th<\/sup>):\u00a0<\/strong>You must write an eight-page, typed, double-spaced papers examining the major themes and arguments in the My Grandfather\u2019s Son<\/em> book and in the American Politics and the African American Quest for Universal Freedom<\/em> book (and power point presentation given in class) that examines Thurgood Marshall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congress, the Presidency, and Gubernatorial Campaigns 20% (Due on April 12th<\/sup><\/strong>):\u00a0This eight-page paper must examine the presidency of Barack Obama and the vice presidency of Kamala Harris as well as the gubernatorial campaigns of Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Presentation Paper 10% (Due April 18th<\/sup>):\u00a0<\/strong>Each graduate student in our course will give a presentation that examines an African American political issue or person of their choice.\u00a0 All students must take notes during each of these presentations so that you will have a deeper understanding of these issues\/persons.\u00a0 Your analysis must answer the following questions for each graduate presentation: Why are these issues\/persons important for our understanding of black politics?\u00a0 What did you learn from the presentation(s) about this issue\/person?\u00a0 The analysis should be approximately five pages (not including a bibliography) and follow rubric included on canvas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Grading Scale:
    \n<\/strong>
    \n94-100 A\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 90-93\u00a0\u00a0 A-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 87-89\u00a0\u00a0 B+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 84-86\u00a0\u00a0 B\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 80-83\u00a0\u00a0 B-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 77-79\u00a0\u00a0 C+<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    74-76\u00a0\u00a0 C\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 70-73\u00a0\u00a0 C-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 67-69\u00a0\u00a0 D+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 64-66\u00a0\u00a0 D\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 60-63\u00a0\u00a0 D-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Below 60\u00a0 E<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    A C- will not be a qualifying grade for major, minor, Gen Ed, Gordon Rule or College Basic Distribution credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Class Schedule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Universal Freedom: Declared and Denied<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    1-6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Introduction<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    1-11\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: American Politics<\/em>, chapter 1 Universal Freedom Declared, Universal Freedom Denied<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    1-13\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NO CLASS (Southern Political Science Association Meeting)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    1-18\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: American Politics<\/em>, chapter 2 Federalism<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    1-20\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: American Politics<\/em>, chapter 6 Social Movements<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Film: Eyes on the Prize: Bridge to Freedom (50 minutes)<\/u> discusses the protests that resulted in the ratification of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    1-25\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: Loneliness of the Black Republican<\/em>, chapter 1 Running with Hares and Hunting with Hounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    1-27\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *At 3pm, we will watch a zoom discussion of the book African American Studies: 50 Years at the University of Florida.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Textbook Readings<\/u>: Until I Am Free<\/em>, introduction, chapters 1 and 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Film: Mississippi: Is This America?<\/u> (50 minutes) discusses the activities that took place during Freedom Summer 1964.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    2-1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: Loneliness of the Black Republican<\/em>, chapter 2 A Thorn in the Flesh of the GOP<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    The Black Power Movement<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    2-3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First Class Material Paper Due (Covers Materials Covered in January 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Textbook Reading<\/u>: Loneliness of the Black Republican<\/em>, chapter 3 The Challenge of Change<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Film:\u00a0<\/span>Nation of Law<\/u> (55 minutes) examines the 1968 murders of two members of the Illinois Black Panther Party Fred Hampton and Mark Clark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    2-8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reserve Reading<\/u>:\u00a0Did Black Lives Matter Pick Up Where the Black Panthers Left Off?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Textbook Readings<\/u>: Until I Am Free<\/em>, chapters 2 and 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Celebrity Activism, The Media, and Conservative Activism<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    2-10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: American Politics<\/em>, chapter 5 The Media; Until I Am Free<\/em>, chapters 4 and 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Reserve Readings<\/u>:\u00a0Shut Up and Play;\u00a0The NFL, Activism, and #BlackLivesMatter<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    2-15\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Readings<\/u>:\u00a0American Politics<\/em>, chapters 4 and 12<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    2-17\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reserve Readings<\/u>:\u00a0Regents of the U of California v. Bakke;\u00a0Gratz v. Bollinger;\u00a0The One Florida Plan Executive Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Textbook Readings<\/u>: Until I Am Free<\/em>, chapters 4 and 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Film:\u00a0 A Question of Fairness (45 minutes)<\/u> examines the lawsuits challenging admissions processes at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    2-22\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reserve Reading<\/u>: Fisher v. University of Texas<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    2-24\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Second Paper Due (Examines Materials Covered in February, Excluding Material Listed on February 22nd<\/sup>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Textbook Readings<\/u>: My Grandfathers Son<\/em>, chapters 1-5<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Film:\u00a0 The Justice Nobody Knows (30 minutes)<\/u> is a 60 Minutes interview with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    3-1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: My Grandfather\u2019s Son<\/em>, chapters 6-10<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Political Parties, The Judiciary, and the American Presidency<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    3-3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: American Politics<\/em>, chapter 11 The Presidency, Bureaucracy and the African American Quest for Universal Freedom<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    3-8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NO CLASS (Spring Break)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    3-10 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NO CLASS (Spring Break)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    3-15\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: American Politics<\/em>, chapter 8 Political Parties<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    3-17\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Third Paper Due (My Grandfather\u2019s Son <\/em>Book and Thurgood Marshall)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Textbook Reading<\/u>: Loneliness of the Black Republican<\/em>, Chapter 7 The Time of the Black Elephant<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    3-22\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: Loneliness of the Black Republican<\/em>, Chapter 4 Richard Nixon\u2019s Black Cabinet<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Reserve Reading<\/u>: Exploring the Oral Histories of African Americans Who Support Donald Trump<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    3-24\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: American Politics<\/em>, chapter 9 Voting Behavior and Elections<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    3-29\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reserve Readings<\/u>:\u00a0Joe Biden\u2019s Long Complicated Civil Rights History;\u00a0Kamala Harris Was Not a Progressive Prosecutor<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Congress and Gubernatorial Campaigns<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    3-31\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 American Politics<\/em>, chapter 3 Political Culture and Socialization<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    4-5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Textbook Reading<\/u>: American Politics<\/em>, chapter 10 Congress and the African American Quest for Universal Freedom<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Reserve Reading<\/u>:\u00a0How Can a Black Woman Be a Republican?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    4-7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reserve Reading<\/u>:\u00a0Contemporary Black Populism and the Development of Multiracial Electoral Coalitions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    4-12\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fourth Class Material Paper Due (Examines the Presidency, Congress, and Gubernatorial Campaigns)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Graduate Student Presentations<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    4-14\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Graduate Student Presentations<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Presentation Paper is due on April 18th<\/sup>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"featured_post":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-14","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/polssdw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/polssdw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/polssdw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/polssdw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/polssdw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/polssdw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":327,"href":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/polssdw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions\/327"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/polssdw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/people.clas.ufl.edu\/polssdw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}