THE CLAREMONT COLLEGES - SPRING, 2002

PSYCHOLOGY 12cc:  INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGY

PROFESSOR HALFORD FAIRCHILD

COURSE SYLLABUS

Texts:   A.  Thomas A. Parham, Joseph L. White & Adisa Ajamu:  The Psychology of Blacks

B.     Marcia Sutherland: Black Authenticity

C.     Amos N. Wilson:  Afrikan-Centered Consciousness versus the New World Order

D.     Na’im Akbar:  Know Thy Self

E.      Alvin F. Poussaint & Amy Alexander:  Lay my burden down.

F.      Halford Fairchild:  Black Psychology for the General Population (readings)

 

OFFICE & HOURS:  203 Scott Hall ; Tue – Thur 7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.; Thur 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and by appointment.  Phone:  Ext. 7-3056. E-mail: Hfairchild@pitzer.edu or HalFairchild@aol.com (home e-mail). Website:  http://bernard.pitzer.edu/~hfairchi/ (go to courses link).

Date     Topic                                                                           Readings

1-22     Introductions and Course Overview                              none

1-24     What is Black Psychology?                                           none

 

1-29     Lecture

1-31     Definitions and Issues                                                    A:  Chapters 1-4; F: Page 1

 

2-5       Lecture

2-7       Approaches and Future Orientation                               A:  Chapters 5-9; Afterword: F: 2

 

2-12     Lecture                                                             Parham, et al book review due

2-14     White Supremacy                                                         B:  Foreward; Chapter 1; F: 3

 

2-19     Lecture

2-21     Struggle & Marginalization                                            B:  Chapters 2 & 3; F: 4

 

2-26     Lecture

2-28     Anti- and Pro- African Practices                                   B:  Chapters 4 & 5; F: 5

 

3-5       Lecture                                                             Sutherland book review due

3-7       Marcus Garvey: Overview & Legacy                            C:  Overview and Part 1; F: 6

 

3-12     Lecture

3-14     Consciousness                                                              C:  Part 2; F: 7

 

3-19     SPRING BREAK ☺

3-21     SPRING BREAK ☺

 

3-26     Lecture                                                             Wilson book review due

3-28     Race and IQ                                                                 Handout

 

4-2       Lecture

4-4       Education                                                                     D: Intro, Chapters 1 & 2; F: 8

 

4-9       Lecture

4-11     Self Study                                                                     D:  Chapters 3-5 & Conclusion; F: 9

 

4-16     Lecture                                                             Akbar Book Review due

4-18     Posttraumatic Slavery Syndrome                                   E: Prologue, Intro, Chapter 1; F: 10

 

4-23     Lecture

4-25     Suicide & Racism                                                         E: Chapters 2-5; F: 11

 

4-30     Lecture

5-2       Staying Strong                                                              E:  Chapters 6-9; F: 12

 

5-7       Lecture                                                             Poussaint Book Review due

5-9       Course review & evaluation

 

Weekly Writing - Assignments. This course is writing intensive and requires weekly reaction papers. For each of the assigned readings, provide a brief "thumbnail sketch" of the reading (in one or two paragraphs), and a brief "reaction statement" that provides your personal reaction to an aspect of the material in the article (in one or two paragraphs). For example, the readings for January 23rd include two chapters. For each of these chapters, write a brief "thumbnail sketch" and "reaction statement." Weekly papers should also sketch and react to the preceding Tuesday’s lecture (or video lecture).  Students will share their reaction statements in class as a stimulus to class discussion. These writing assignments will be graded on a pass/no-pass basis.  Papers are collected at the beginning of class each Thursday. Late papers receive no credit.  Incomplete papers receive partial credit.  A passing paper is worth 100 points.

Book Reviews - For each of the texts, students must write a book review that critically assesses the contribution of the book to Black Psychology. Book reviews must be typed, double spaced, with one inch margins, and be about 500-1000 words.  Students are encouraged to use the book reviews in the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, The Journal of Black Psychology, or Contemporary Psychology as models for this assignment. Due Dates are indicated on the syllabus.  (Late papers receive 75% credit.)  Suitable papers will be published in Psych Discourse:  The Newsjournal of The Association of Black Psychologists.

Grading - Grades are determined on a point basis. Weekly papers (thumbnail sketch & reaction statements) are worth 100 points for a total of 1400 points. The book reviews are each worth 500 points.  Contribution to the class discussion is worth up to 1100 points (Each absence, regardless of excuse, subtracts 50 points from the total). (Class discussion will be subjectively graded on a 70 to 100 point scale, and that total will be multiplied by 11. Subtractions for absences are then taken from the grand total.) The grand total, therefore, is 3000 possible points. Final grades will be determined according to the following formula: A (92%+); A/B (88%-91.9%); B (82%-79.9%); B/C (78%-81.9%); C (72%+); C/D (68%+), etc. Additional reading assignments will be made on a regular basis. The requirements and grading formula are subject to change.

Webpage.  Students are encouraged to visit the course webpage for updates.  The course webpage may be found under “courses” at Dr. Fairchild’s website:  http://bernard.pitzer.edu/~hfairchi.