African-American Women Writers - Colorado College

African-American Women Writers:
"To Be Young--A Woman--And Colored"
Professor Claire Garcia
Spring 1999

CLASS: Meets 9:30-12:30 in Armstrong 257B
OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday 9-11 and by appointment
EXT. 6510
E-MAIL: cgarcia@coloradocollege.edu

This course is an examination of how some of the most interesting black women writers have used narrative forms and conventions to reflect upon issues of identity and literary power. We will examine how class, “race” and gender interact in works of fiction, and how creative writers constructed black female subjectivity in a world which regarded black women primarily as objects. Each of these books reflects the worlds from which they emerged as well as the lives of particular protagonists, so we will be reading these texts in chronological order. We'll also take a look at how texts by a variety of women writers-- from abolitionists to Pulitzer prize winners--are situated in relation to American, women’s’, and African-American literary traditions.

EXPECTATIONS: CRITICAL PRACTICES OR INTRODUCTION TO POETRY ARE PREREQUISITES FOR THIS COURSE. As this is a discussion-oriented class, I expect all members of the class to contribute consistently and thoughtfully to our conversation. Class participation counts for 10% of your final grade. The required work is as follows:

Discussion leadership: Every class meeting, a group of two to four students will be responsible for getting the discussion going by presenting themes, problems, or interpretations of the assigned text to their classmates.

Two papers: One shorter--6-8 pages (20%), one slightly longer, 7-10 pages (30%). The shorter paper must have at least three bibliographical sources, including one from the Internet. The longer papers must include at least five bibliographical references, and at least two of these references must be from a source on the Internet. Papers receiving a grade of “no credit” may be rewritten and turned in on the last day of the block. The new grade will replace the original grade. No other papers may be rewritten. I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE PAPERS.

Oral Report (20%) You will be assigned an oral report topic on the Friday of the first week. These reports may be group or individual.

Exam: There will be an in-class exam (20%)given on the last day of the block.

GRADES: I will compute your final grades giving the following weights to each component of the class requirements: first paper, 20%; second paper, 30%; final exam, 20%; oral report, 20%; class participation, 10%.

REQUIRED TEXTS: Cleage, Pearl. What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day (1997)
Jacobs, Harriet. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861)
Kincaid, Jamaica. Lucy (1990)
Larsen, Nella. Passing: (1929)
Parker, Gwendolyn. These Same Long Bones (1994)
Petry, Ann. The Street (1946)
PHOTOCOPY PACKET TO BE PURCHASED FROM THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT SECRETARY.

HONOR CODE: I expect all students in the class to uphold the Colorado College Honor Code.

READING ASSIGNMENTS

WEEK ONE
Monday: Introductions and background.
Tuesday: Harper, “The Two Offers” (in packet) and Jacobs, Incidents Introduction and Chapters
Wednesday: OFF TO FINISH INCIDENTS and read critical essays.
Thursday: Finish Jacobs discussion.
Friday: “Representative Women and a New Generation” (in packet) and Hopkins, “Talma Gordon” (in packet).

WEEK TWO
Monday: Bonner, “On Being Young- a Woman - and Colored” (in packet); Larsen, Passing; Blackmore, “‘That Unreasonable Restless Feeling’: The Homoerotic Subtext in Passing” (packet); McLendon, “(Re)shaping Content, or This Text Which is not One” (packet).
Tuesday: Petry, The Street, Chapters 1-4.
Wednesday: OFF TO READ
Thursday: Petry, The Street, Chapters 5 to end.
Friday: Morrison, The Bluest Eye beginning to page 76.

WEEK THREE
Monday: Morrison, The Bluest Eye to end. Morrison essays to be assigned.
Tuesday: Kincaid, Lucy entire.
Wednesday: OFF TO READ.
Thursday: Parker, These Same Long Bones Books One and Two (to page 195).
Friday: Bones 199 to end.

WEEK FOUR
Monday: Cleage, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day (entire)