Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Articulate and interpret an understanding of key historical facts and events in the history of African Americans from Reconstruction to the present.
• Identify the influence of culturally based practices, values, and beliefs to analyze how historically defined meanings of difference affect human behavior.
• Identify and investigate historical theses, evaluate information and its sources, and use appropriate reasoning to construct evidence-based arguments on historical issues.
• Construct a well-organized historical argument using effective, appropriate, and accurate language.

Assess by using any combination of the following:

• Exams
• Essays
• Oral presentations
• Research projects
• Book critiques
• Service Learning
• Class participation and discussion
• Other creative assignments

Competencies and Skills:

Analyze and evaluate primary and secondary sources:

• Connect evidence to its relevant historical context
• Analyze and evaluate written, artistic, or other evidence
• Assess the motivation and purpose of evidence

Evaluate different interpretations of past events and construct your own interpretation:

• Identify a historians thesis and supporting evidence
• Evaluate the arguments used to support different interpretations of historical issues
• Develop your own thesis and historical interpretation and use evidence to support it

Think critically about the relationship between past and present events and issues:

• Recognize and identify historical roots and parallels to current issues

Compare and contrast the experience of diverse groups in society:

• Listen to and appreciate the experience of students from a variety of  backgrounds
• Assess the contributions and experiences of various groups in society

Demonstrate college-level communications skills with an emphasis on writing (and may include listening and speaking):

• Communicate effectively in writing about a historical topic
• Communicate in writing an understanding of historical process and an evaluation of how concepts or values change over time

Clearly articulate thoughts and ideas to a particular audience which may include:

• Working collaboratively with other students to evaluate and understand historical events
• Working collaboratively with others in discussions, debate, or role plays
• Presenting information in oral presentations

Themes, Concepts, Issues:

• Building social institutions and organizations

• Violence: race riots, lynching, policing

• Mass incarceration

• Cultural developments: music, art, literature, religion, education

• Government and politics, disfranchisement

• Organized action, civil rights strategies

• Historical interpretation

• Jim Crow

• Inter- and intra-group ethnic relationships

• Pan Africanism

• Adaptation and resistance

• Religion and religious leaders

• Economics

• Civil rights gains in legal, political, economic arenas

• Gender and sexuality

• Racial pride

• Backlash against civil rights gains 

• Segregation and integration

• Institutional racism

• Black Power

• Nonviolent Resistance

• Black Nationalism