ENGL352:416SpecialTopicsinModernAmericanLiterature

BlackWomanistVoicesinLiteratureandSound

TuesdaysandThursdays:10:00AM-11:20AM

Room:VirtualZoomviaCanvas

Professor: Dr. Melanie R. Hill Virtual Office Hours: Tuesdays from 1:00 PM-3:00 PM (Virtual Zoom Coffee Office Hours with Dr. Hill) Location: Hill Hall 530 Phone: (973) 353-5182 Email: mrh197@english.rutgers.edu mrh197@rutgers.edu

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CourseOverview:

“Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.” -Alice Walker

In literary studies, both scholars and students examine various genres of literature from drama,

fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Renowned poet, essayist, and novelist Alice Walker, coins the term womanism, establishing definitive ground not only in African American literary theory and black feminist studies, but its use has also taken an interdisciplinary path in literature, music, and religious studies. In this course, we will explore the roots of womanist theory and the representation of womanist thought in conversation with African American literature, music, and spirituality.

In 1966, famed vocalist, Nina Simone, sings the narratives of four women—one of the most distinct and socially-awakening pieces from her album, Wild is the Wind. Just ten years later in 1976, Ntozake Shange released a choreopoem that would mark the ever-evolving trajectory of black women authors and their art. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf tells the stories of seven women who encounter periods of struggle, abuse, and denigration at the hands of men. Concluding Shange’s choreopoem is a clause each woman repeats, “I found God in myself, and I loved her fiercely.” In this particular period of the 20th century, black women writers and artists like Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, Nina Simone, and Ntozake Shange used their literary and musical voices to challenge the invisibility and oppressive structures aimed particularly at black women. In this course, we will explore preachers, musicians, and black women writers from Aretha Franklin and Maya Angelou to Billie Holiday and others from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, investigating how their words and art add to the womanist canon. As both text and performance, prose and poetry, the works of these authors offer an excellent resource for our investigation of black literary studies.

This seminar is designed to give students a profound examination of writing through the voices of black women themselves, and involve students in the kinds of research that the discipline of literary studies currently demands, including: working with primary sources and archival materials; reviewing the critical literature; using online databases of historical newspapers, periodicals, and other cultural materials; exploring relevant contexts in literary, linguistic, and cultural history; studying the etymological history and changing meanings of words; experimenting with new methods of computational analysis of texts; and other methodologies. This course typically involves several main texts that are studied intensively from a variety of approaches. Research exercises throughout the semester will enable and culminate in a final paper project: a scholarly essay of 11-12 pages. The final project must emerge out of each student's intensive, independent research agenda.

In-class assignments and reading response exercises (“Think Pieces”) throughout the semester will enable and culminate in a final paper project: a scholarly essay of 11-12 pages that will be turned in online via Canvas during final exam week at the end of the semester. At the end of the semester, students will also present their final paper project idea in a creative form (i.e. Power Point/Prezi presentation, et al.). Make this presentation creative! CourseGoals:

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ComprehendhowthecanonicalworksofblackwomenwritersreflectthecurrentculturesofAfricanAmericanliterarystudies.

Understandtheconceptofwomanism,womanistthought,theory,anditsapplicationtoBlackliterarystudies.

Classdiscussions,readingresponses(thinkpieces),formalessays,andin-classassignmentswillhelpcarrystudentstoahigherlevelofliteraryanalysesofassignedtexts.

Studentswilltrace,throughassignedliteraryandhistoricaltexts,thedevelopmentofAfricanAmericanconsciousness,attitudes,andideals.

RecognizeinliteraryandhistoricaltextsthemesthatcontinuetochallengeAmerica(i.e.class,genderandraceconsciousness,violence,religiousvalues).

Developandexpress,formallyandinformally,perspectivesonsaidAfricanAmericanthemestoincreasecriticalthinking.

Useresearchtoaugmentunderstandingandtodevelopanalyticalpapersthatdemonstratestudents’deepinvestmentinassignedtextsandwritingresponsesoverthecourseofthesemester.

YoucanpurchasethefollowingrequiredtextsattheRutgersUniversity—NewarkBarnesandNoblesBookstorelocatedattheHahne’sBuilding42HalseyStreet;Newark,NJ07102.BookstorePhoneNumber:(973)353-2200 RequiredTexts: ZoraNealeHurston,TheirEyesWereWatchingGodToniMorrison,SulaToniCadeBambara,TheBlackWoman:AnAnthologyAliceWalker,TheColorPurpleSalamishahTillet,InSearchoftheColorPurpleAliceWalker,InSearchofOurMothers’GardensNtozakeShange,ForColoredGirlsWhoHaveConsideredSuicideWhentheRainbowisEnufGloriaNaylor,TheWomenofBrewsterPlaceMayaAngelou,IKnowWhytheCagedBirdSingsRenitaWeems,JustaSisterAwayKatieCannon,Katie’sCanon:WomanismandtheSouloftheBlackCommunitySoniaSanchez,ShakeLooseMySkin

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BrittanyCooper,EloquentRage(*anyshortstoriesthatareassignedwillbedistributedin.pdffilesviaemailtoallstudents*)(*sometextsarerecommendedreadingthatwillhelpyouthroughoutthesemester;recommendedtextsarenotrequiredtexts*)(fortextsthathaveanasterisk(*),studentswillreadexcerptsDr.Hillwillassign,notthewholebook)SomeofourFeaturedMusicfortheMusic-MakingMemoirSectionofourseminar:JillScott,Woman(2015)JillScott,TheLightoftheSun(2011)Beyoncé,Lemonade(2016)SolangeKnowles,ASeatattheTable(2016)Ms.LaurynHill,MTVUnplugged(2001)Ms.LaurynHill,TheMis-educationofLaurynHill(1998)IndiaArie,AcousticSoul(2001)IndiaArie,Songversation(2013)IndiaArie,TestimonyVol.1,LifeandRelationship(2006)IndiaArie,TestimonyVol.2,LoveandPolitics(2009)Albumsby:SadeAbbeyLincolnNinaSimoneArethaFranklinSomeofourFeaturedFilmsandDocumentaries:NinaSimone(ADocumentary)(1998)(Duration:2hoursand52minutes)(onNetflix)ToniMorrison:ThePiecesIAm(2019)(Duration:2hours)(linkwillbeprovided) RecommendedTexts:CherylA.Wall,Ph.D.,OnFreedomandtheWilltoAdorn:TheArtoftheAfricanAmericanEssayWilliamL.Andrews:SistersoftheSpirit:ThreeBlackWomen’sAutobiographiesoftheNineteenthCenturyMeriNana-AmaDanquah,ShakingtheTree:ACollectionofNewFictionandMemoirbyBlackWomen(2003)ZoraN.Hurston,TheSanctifiedChurch:TheFolkloreWritingsofZoraNealeHurston GeraldL.Thomas,African-AmericanPreaching:TheContributionofDr.GardnerC.Taylor DolanHubbard,TheSermonandtheAfrican-AmericanLiteraryImagination RichardJ.Douglass-Chin,PreacherWomanSingstheBluesKellyBrownDouglass,StandYourGround:BlackBodiesandtheJusticeofGodAliceWalker,InSearchofOurMothers’GardensHenryLouisGates,Jr.,TheSignifyingMonkey:ATheoryofAfrican-AmericanLiteraryTheory

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AngelaDavis,BluesLegaciesandBlackFeminisms:Gertrude“Ma”Rainey,BessieSmith,andBillieHolidayToniCadeBambara,TheBlackWoman:AnAnthologyImaniPerry,MayWeForeverStand:AHistoryoftheBlackNationalAnthemHoustonA.Baker,Blues,Ideology,andAfro-AmericanLiteratureBeverlyGuy-Sheftall,Editor—WordsofFire:AnAnthologyofAfrican-AmericanFeministThoughtToniCadeBambara,TheBlackWomanHayesandWilliams,BlackWomenandMusicNtozakeShange,LostinLanguageandSoundTrudierHarris—Saints,Sinners,Saviors:StrongBlackWomeninAfrican-AmericanLiteratureThomasF.DeFrantzandAnitaGonzalez,Editors—BlackPerformanceTheoryAishaDurham,HomewithHipHopFeminism:PerformancesinCommunicationandCultureBrittanyCooper,SusannaM.Morris,RobinM.Boylorn,TheCrunkFeministCollectionEdwidgeDanticat,Brother,I’mDying

RutgersUniversity–Newark,FacultyofArts&Sciences,Spring2021

AcademicHonesty:Anystudentwhoviolatesbasiccodesofacademicconduct—throughplagiarism,cheatingonexamsorassignments,doublesubmissionofpapers,oranyothermeans,canexpecttofailthecourseandfacedisciplinaryactionfromRutgersUniversity.

AcademicIntegrity:Asanacademiccommunitydedicatedtothecreation,dissemination,andapplicationofknowledge,RutgersUniversityiscommittedtofosteringanintellectualandethicalenvironmentbasedontheprinciplesofacademicintegrity.AcademicintegrityisessentialtothesuccessoftheUniversity’seducationalandresearchmissions,andviolationsofacademicintegrityconstituteseriousoffensesagainsttheentireacademiccommunity.

AcademicIntegrityPolicy: http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/academic-

integrity-policy/

Email:Pleasecheckyouremailregularly.Formasscomunicationmessages,IwillcommunicatewithallofyouviaCanvas.FeelfreetodiscussanyquestionsyouhaveregardingthematerialwefleshoutduringclasswithmeafterclassorvirtualCoffeeOfficeHours.

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VirtualClassAttendancePolicy:Iexpectallstudentstoattendeachvirtualclassmeetingontimewithcamerason.Pleasebeawareofyourattire(casual/businessattire)andbackgroundforeachvirtualclasssession. Assignments:Youareexpectedtoreadallofthetextsandattendclassprepared.Classattendanceandparticipationareessentialtoeachstudent’sfulldevelopmentinthiscourse.Pleasecometoclassontime!Iexpecteachstudenttoattendclassreadytodelveintoeachtextanddiscussthematerialsinanengagingmanner.Attendanceismandatory.Any unexcused absences will result in a lowering of your final grade by ⅓ of a grade for each unexcused absence (e.g. from A- to B+).Ifyoucannotattendclassduetoanillnessorextremeemergency,itisimportantthatyouemailmeinadvance. ClassPercentages:ThinkPiecePaper(5-6pagesdouble-spaced):30%Attendance/VirtualClassParticipation/DiscussionBoardPosts:15%In-ClassPresentations/Assignments:15%FinalPaper/ProjectPresentation:40%AssignmentsthisSemester:

• In-classpresentations/assignmentswillinvolveone-twostudentsperweeksubmittingacreativePowerPoint/digitalpresentationthatincludes4-5discussionquestionsandseveralsentences/bulletpointsaboutwhatconceptyouthoughtwasmostengagingaboutthereadingsforthatweek.ThisworkwillbesubmittedonlineviaCanvas.Allin-classassignmentsmustbesubmittedtoCanvasthedayBEFOREourscheduledclass(Monday)nolaterthan7:00PM.AllThinkPiecePapersmustbesubmittedtoCanvasnolaterthanthedesignateddayandtimenotedonthecoursecalendar.

• ThinkPiecepapersarereflectionpapersrecapitulatinginformalproseyourthoughtsonaparticularthemeorideafromanyofthereadingswehavediscussedpriortothepaperdeadline.ThinkPiecepapersare5-6pagesdouble-spaced.ThinkPiecepapersusuallyhave2-3bibliographicalsources.ThinkPiecepaperscan(thoughtheydonothaveto)definethefoundationforyourfinalpaper,ifimplementedwell.IfstudentswouldratherwriteonanewtopictheydidnotcoverintheirThinkPiecepaper,theycanusethattopicfortheirfinalpaper.Examplesofexcellently-structuredpapersareavailableunderthe“Files”tabonCanvas.

• ThewritingassignmentrubricisalsoavailableonCanvasunderthe“Files”tab.

• EveryThursday,studentswillsubmitshortreflections(succinctthoughts)onthereadingsfortheweekontheDiscussionBoard.Notonlywillstudents’postsreflecttheirbriefthoughtsonanideatheyfoundthemostengagingbasedonthereadings,studentswillalsochooseasongthatreflectseachwomanistreading.ThiswillbuildourWomanistVoicesPlaylist.Eachpostshouldbrieflyevinceyourthoughts(atleastfour-fivesentences)onaparticularthemefortheweek.Thosewhoarepresentingin-

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classpresentationsonTuesdaywillnothavetoposttotheDiscussionBoardonThursday(theweekofthepresentation).EachstudentshouldposttheirshortreflectionsonThursdaynolaterthan1:00pm.Postswillcounttowardseachstudent’sparticipationgrade.

In-ClassWork:Youshouldcometoclasspreparedtoparticipateinsmallandlargegroupdiscussions.Pleaseberespectfulofeveryone’sopinions,presence,andpersoninthiscourse.Aprimarypurposeofourdiscussionsistogiveyoutheopportunitytopracticedevelopinginterpretationsofthetexts.Whileyouareencouragedtoofferdifferinginterpretations,youshoulddosoinarespectfulandthoughtfulmanner. FinalPaperProjectOptions:

1. Attheendofthesemester,eachstudentwillgiveapresentationonhisorherfinalpapertopic(youcanpresentthisinPowerPoint,Prezi,etal;youcanbecreativewiththispresentation!).Youhavetheoptionofturninginaformalproposalstatingtheproject,itsgoals,andtheresearchthatwillunderlieitbyApril1st(finalpaperproposalsarenotrequiredthissemester-itispresentedasanextracreditoption).Yourproposalshouldbeasclearandspecificaspossible,asthiswillformpartofthebasisonwhichIevaluateyourfinalproject/paper.Intheproposal,youmustpayequalattentiontothepaperprojectandtotheresearchthatscaffoldsit.Ifyouwanttosubmitafinalpaperprojectforextracredit,youmaydosobyApril1st.

• Forthecriticalessay,hereareacoupleofideastouseasyou’replanningyourfinalpapertopic:

2.Aliteraturereviewanalyzingandsynthesizingthecurrentscholarlyconversationaboutyourtopic.Yourliteraturereviewshouldnotsimplybeasummaryofothers’arguments.Rather,youmustmakecleartheinterventionthatyouressaywillmakeinthefieldandthethesisofyourownargument. 3.Aclosereadingofthreenon-consecutivepassagesfromthemajortextyouwillbeanalyzinginthefinalproject.Thesepassagesshouldbecentraltotheargumentyouwanttomakeaboutthattext;thatis,ratherthanselectingrandomquotations,makesuretochoosepassagesthatcanhelpyoudevelopastrongargumentaboutthetext.Aswithoptiontwo,yourfinalpapershouldmakethethesisandstructureofyouressayclear.ThisoptionisalsoarepresentationofhowmidtermThinkPiecepapersshouldbestructured.

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RutgersUniversity-NewarkPoliciesRutgersUniversity–Newark,FacultyofArts&Sciences,Spring2021•AcademicIntegrity:Asanacademiccommunitydedicatedtothecreation,dissemination,andapplicationofknowledge,RutgersUniversityiscommittedtofosteringanintellectualandethicalenvironmentbasedontheprinciplesofacademicintegrity.AcademicintegrityisessentialtothesuccessoftheUniversity’seducationalandresearchmissions,andviolationsofacademicintegrityconstituteseriousoffensesagainsttheentireacademiccommunity.•AcademicIntegrityPolicy:http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/academic-integrity-policy/•DisabilityServices:RutgersUniversitywelcomesstudentswithdisabilitiesintoalloftheUniversity’seducationalprograms.Inordertoreceiveconsiderationforreasonableaccommodations,youmustcompleteandsubmittheRegistrationForm,scheduleandcompleteanintakemeeting,andsubmitappropriatedocumentation.Ifyourrequestforreasonableaccommodationsisapproved,youwillreceiveaLetterofAccommodations(LOA),whichyoushouldpresentprivatelytotheinstructorasearlyinthesemesteraspossible.AccommodationsarenotretroactiveandareeffectiveonlyuponsubmissionoftheLOAtotheinstructor.PleasebegintheprocessbycompletingandsubmittingtheRegistrationForm,ApplyingforServices,availableatthewebsitebelow.•ApplyingforServices:https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/applying-for-services•DocumentationGuidelines:https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines•LetterofAccommodations(LOA):https://ods.rutgers.edu/my-accommodations/letter-of-accommodations•OfficeofDisabilityServices(ODS)Suite219,PaulRobesonCampusCenter(973)353-5315odsnewark@rutgers.edu•ReligiousHolidayPolicy:Studentsareadvisedtoprovidetimelynotificationtoinstructorsaboutnecessaryabsencesforreligiousobservancesandareresponsibleformakinguptheworkorexamsaccordingtoanagreed-uponschedule.LearningResources:•RutgersLearningCenter(tutoringservices)Room140,BradleyHall

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(973)353-5608http://www.ncas.rutgers.edu/rlc•WritingCenter(tutoringandwritingworkshops)Room126,ConklinHall(973)353-5847nwc@rutgers.eduRutgersUniversity–Newark,FacultyofArts&Sciences,Spring2021https://www.ncas.rutgers.edu/writingcenter

CourseCalendar(*theProfessorreservestherighttochangethecoursecalendaratherdiscretion*):

WeekOneTues.Jan.19th:FirstDayofClassWhatisWomanism?

PopcornIntroductions/Icebreaker OverviewofSyllabus WhatisWomanism? RepresentationsofBlackWomanisminMusic: Readlink:https://wordpress.clarku.edu/wgs200-s17/2017/05/02/representations-of-black-women-and-womanism-in-contemporary-black-music/

WhatisWomanism?: https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/wc/resource-collection/womanist

Thurs.Jan.21st:RepresentationsofBlackWomanisminMusicVirtualWomanistDiscussionBoardPostDayAllPostsDueby1:00pm(Thursday)ReadthearticlebelowonRepresentationsofBlackWomanisminBlackMusicandpostyoursuccinctcommentsaboutthearticleinthediscussionboardonCanvas.Chooseasongthatconveyswhatyouthinkdefineswomanism.Wewilladdtothislistasthesemesterprogresses.Bytheendofthesemester,thisseminarwillhavecompiledaWomanistPlaylist.Readlink:https://wordpress.clarku.edu/wgs200-s17/2017/05/02/representations-of-black-women-and-womanism-in-contemporary-black-music/

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WeekTwo:January26th:RepresentationsofBlackWomanisminLiteratureandMusicReadlink:https://blavity.com/blavity-original/how-alice-walker-created-womanism-the-movement-that-meets-black-women-where-feminism-misses-the-mark?category1=Books

https://wordpress.clarku.edu/wgs200-s17/2017/05/02/representations-of-black-women-and-womanism-in-contemporary-black-music/

Alsoread:InSearchofOurMothers’Gardens(articlefoundunderFilesonCanvas)January28th:VirtualWomanistDiscussionBoardPostDayonCanvasAllPostsDueby1:00pm(Thursday)DiscussionPostTopic:AliceWalker’sInSearchofOurMothers’Gardens,Walker’screationofWomanistThought,andtheHistoryofWomanistThoughtArticleofTheHistoryofWomanistThoughtfoundunderFilesonCanvasWomanistPlaylistAdditions:Walker’sSongWeekThree:February2nd:EbonyMinds,BlackVoicesTheBlackWoman:AnAnthologybyToniCadeBambara

1) Re-CallingtheBlackWoman2) TwoPoemsbyAudreLorde3) DearBlackManbyFranSanders4) TheBlackWomanasaWomanbyKayLindsey5) EbonyMinds,BlackVoicesAdeleJonesandGroup6) TheBlackRevolutioninAmericabyGraceLeeBoggs

February4th:VirtualDiscussionBoardPostTheBlackWomanessaysWriteonatleastoneoftheessayslistedabove.Allpostsdueby1:00pmBambara’sSongWeekFour:February9th/11th:InSearchofZoraHurston,TheirEyesWereWatchingGodThursday:DiscussionBoardPostontheprotagonistofthenovel,JanieHurston’sSong

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WeekFive:February16th:MemoriesofGirlhoodToniMorrison,SulaFebruary18th:VirtualDiscussionBoardPostsonSulaMorrison’sSongWeekSix:February23/25:LostinLanguageandSoundNtozakeShange,ForColoredGirlsWhoHaveConsideredSuicideWhentheRainbowisEnufShange’sSongWeekSeven:March2/4:GloriaNaylor,TheWomenofBrewsterPlaceThursdayDiscussionBoardPostNaylor’sSongWeekEight:March9/11:MayaAngelou,IKnowWhytheCagedBirdSingsThursdayDiscussionBoardPostMaya’sSongWeekNine:March16/18:SPRINGBREAK---CLASSWILLNOTCONVENEWeekTen:March23/25:AliceWalker,TheColorPurpleVirtualDiscussionBoardPostCelie’sSongThinkPiecePaperDueFriday,March26thby6:00pmWeekEleven:March30/April1:Tillet,InSearchoftheColorPurple

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VirtualDiscussionBoardPostTillet’sSongWeekTwelve:April6/8:WomanistSpiritualityKatie’sCanon:WomanismandtheSouloftheBlackCommunity(wewillreadanessayfromthistext)RenitaWeems,JustaSisterAwayDiscussionBoardPostCannon’sandWeems’sSongsWeekThirteen:April13/15:Music-MakingPoeticsSoniaSanchez,ShakeLooseMySkinDiscussionBoardPostSanchez’sSongWeekFourteen:April20/22:BrittanyCooper,EloquentRageDiscussionBoardPostCooper’sSongWeekFifteen:April27/29:LastDayofClass(Thursday)FinalProjects/Presentations:BLACKWOMANISTVOICESINLITERATUREANDSOUNDSUMMIT(Tuesday/Thursday-CreativePresentations)ReadingsDays:May4th-May5thFinalPapersDue:Friday,May7that8:00pmSHARP!FINALEXAM:FINALPAPERSAREDUEONORBEFOREFRIDAY,MAY7,2021by8:00PMSHARPviaCANVAS(LATEPAPERSWILLNOTBEACCEPTED).

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