Tuesday and Thursday  2:0O-3:20
102 Denny Building                              

Dr. Herman Thomas                                                                                                        
Office: 215 Macy Building
Office Hours: TU 8:30-9:30 And By Appointment
Ext.4605

 COURSE DESCRIPTION 
An examination of the tenets of African-American religions since World War II, with particular emphasis on the influence of religion and religious leaders in the struggle for equality, justice, and liberation. This course will analyze the religious experience of African-American Americans in the second‑half of the 20th century.  Special attention will be given to (1) the origins of African-American Religion and the African-American Church, (2) African-American Islam, (3) African-American Christianity, and (4) the development of an African-American religious perspective.

 BOOKS: Suggested
In order that the class may have a general understanding of African-American history in America as a common ground for our special study of Contemporary African-American Religion, members of the class should familiarize themselves with John Hope Franklin, From Slavery To Freedom: A History Of Negro Americans, Vintage Paperback, OR Lerone Bennett, Before The Mayflower. 

REQUIRED TEXTS

 James H. Cone, Martin Malcolm And America.  Orbis Press, 1990.

Katie Cannon, Katie ‘S. Canon: Womanism And The Soul Of The Black Community. Continuum, 1995.

Hopkins, Dwight. Introducing Black Theology Of Liberation. Orbis Press, 1999.

Lincoln, C. Eric, and Lawrence H. Mamiya. The Black Church In The African American Experience. Durham: Duke University Press, 1990.

SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

James H. Cone, and Gayraud S. Wilmore, Black Theology: A Documentary History. Volume I. Orbis Books, 1979. (Paperback).

James H. Cone, and Gayraud S. Wilmore, Black Theology: A Documentary History. Volume II (1980-1992). Orbis Books, 1993. (Paperback)

Cornel West, RACE MATTERS.

Cornel West and Harold L. Gates, The Future Of The Race. KNOPF, 1996.

 COURSE REQUIREMENTS 

1. Attendance and class participation. Your presence and participation enrich the class, your absence and lack of involvement in the class affects the success and meaningfulness of the course. 

2. Reading. The reading that the whole class will do is an essential aspect of the course. The required reading, which includes the above books, and other selected short readings, sets the framework and points up issues for our common discussion. 

3. Each student will write a four-page (typewritten or computer-generated) critical analysis of two of the required texts.  The analysis should demonstrate the student's ability to evaluate/appropriate the material read from a religious perspective. The first critical analysis is due no later than Thursday, February 12; the second will be due Thursday, March 6. Students may also elect to monitor a major religious organization/theme for the semester and provide a written/visual report. Selected programs sponsored by the Religious Studies Department may also be subjects of this learning through monitoring experience.

Each student may be given an opportunity to present his/her analysis to his/her peers. That opportunity may be as a part of a small group. 

5. A CHECK‑UP test will be given on the reading and the lecture‑discussions on Thursday, February 26. 

6. A one‑page typewritten or computer-generated summary of special lectures, especially those sponsored by the Religious Studies Department is required at the next class session following the special lecture. (Optional) 

7. A final evaluation for the course will be given on Tuesday, May 11(3:30-6:30 PM).      

TENTATIVE COURSE TOPICS

    I.      Introduction: Methodological and Historical Dimensions    

    II.     The African-American Baptists, Methodists, and Pentecostals 

  III.      Profile of Rural and Urban African-American Clergy and Churches 

  IV.    The African-American Consciousness Movement and the Black Church 

   V.     "Now is the Time!" The Black Church, Politics, and Civil Rights Militancy 

   VI.    Sex and Class: and Women and Young People ("In My Mother's House") 

VII.   Malcolm, Martin and America: The American Dream or American Nightmare

            (Cone, James H., Malcolm Martin And America)            

            Integrationism vs. Nationalism (Chs. 1-2)

 Dream vs. Nightmare (Chaps 3-4)

            Love vs. Heaven (Chs. 5-6)

            Chickens Home to Roost vs. Shattered Dreams (Chs. 7-8)

            Two Roads to Freedom (Ch. 9)

            Making Their Mark: Legacies (Chs. 11-12) 

VIII. Katie Cannon, Katie’s Canon 

 IX. Dwight Hopkins, Introducing Black Theology Of Liberation 

         X. Toward An African-American Religious Perspective
                Black Theology: A Documentary History, II,  and 2,5
               (Cone, Roberts, Wilmore, Grant (Jacqueline), Canon, et al 

       XI. The African-American Church and the Twenty‑First Century: Challenges to
              the Black Church
              Black Theology: A Documentary History,
               II,4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12;13,14,15,16; 19,22;30,33

 Religion 3137 Critical Assessment Format

Name of Student:        

Date:

Individual Evaluation Summary Rpt. No. (circle) 1 2 3

 Author: Last Name, First Name (or Initial). " Title of article/chapter ". Title of Book. Edition.

City of Publication: Publisher, Year, and page(s).                      

Thesis

Summary

Assessment

Conclusion