TEACHING JOURNALS, NOTES, AND COURSE PROPOSALS

[Undated] Racist Society
where racism is a part of structure serves necessary utility function for the continuation until becomes institution.
In such, subj. racist is norm, his racism is encouraged and used to implement systematic oppression, of subordinate group for profit.

Mechanics of Oppression
The 1st primary technique is dehumanization. What is? the easiest way to justify oppression is to make object just that—object.
Not humans in ships—things, slaves, Negroes.
The racist must create an image in his mind something deserving oppression-nonhuman
Constitution—Jefferson, Washington 3/5 of a man.
Time—twisted faces of white mothers. Humans children repeat
In process, what else necessary? Must force subordinate group to fit.
I said if each of us is to survive, acute self-awareness—definition—who am I?
I would like us to look at some of the roots of American racism. We can begin with the Western connotations of “Black”
Webster’s—“a word of difficult history”
absence of light, dirty, fowl, malignant, pertaining to death, wicked, indicating disgrace
based on the JC ethic equaling darkness with evil. This is not so in all societies certainly—in the orient white is the color death, of evil, black is of life, and luck.

Prejudice against difference is not an American invention, nor is racism although no country in history has raised it to the degree of America, nor profited so highly. Chinese emperor--*Slavery also existed in the ancient world, but as a different institution. Condition of loss, code of Hammurabi—Egypt—Sumerian 5,000.

How do we account for these differences within societies? To understand, we must look at what we mean by a racist society. What is a racist society? Is it a society that includes racists, not China, not Egypt. One where racism is institutionalized this –becomes so much an integral part of the fabric of that society that its very structures political, economic, social, reflect and depend. Not where racists exist, but where racism is utilized and fed upon.

So that, racists in Europe, but the emblem of Hudson Company— “Come over and help” noble savage. By 1675, King Philip’s Wars more and more land needed—easier to kill than to civilize, and the noble savage became real monster, to be slaughtered. Instit. racism against indian could justify wiping them off land.

Same development of slavery. First blacks here were not slaves—but indentured servants. But with the growth of tobacco as a cash crop, free labor pool was needed. Not Indians. Blacks.
1629 rights (?)—Christian
1655 English
1660 White
Racism necessary to justifying enslavement, where Black became a thing deserving only slavedom.

[Year Unspecified]

9/30 …What are some of the stereotypes usually associated with Negro
Stereo
Filthy homes
Cannot excel in school processed heads Illegitimacy

Doles Domestics Always grinning Easy going Small God Cheats
Liars Inferiority
Something for nothing
Sensitive about being called a boy Loud music
Mugging Baptist Superstitious Kinky hair Poor
Look alike Crowded apt. Large families Corners
Love chicken

Stereo’s listed some hostile questioning why I don’t know. No one stayed after. 10/2 What we discussed just visible part of iceberg

We don’t think such – don’t have to caught like a subacute infection guilt imperfect form of knowledge only guilty of accepting them not dealing with their presence we make sure we think right but what we feel is what is

projected and open most tellingly

the destructive weight of these s. on black children is beginning to dawn on you.
How destructive to white people how closed and denied
10/4 Film on Thursday 9 classes so far Time for feedback
Why do you think I am here

How do you feel about class – are you satisfied – where do you think we are going Interested in hostility

10/18 Why bored?
Some of us are afraid Film
10/27 1. we have spoken of CD
who took part in Campus Dialogue attempt now over
all that is required for evil to triumph is that just men remain silent
so many of you eschew violence why – reminder of your failure
alternative to closing doors

if you don’t learn to open mouths you will be trampled and have no say in what
1/5    welcome

Black Suicide – Hendrix How many saw exhibit We have spent discussing racism

In what way do you see yourself altering the effects of the course of
What are
the effects of racism in yourself
what are you doing or prepared to do to alter these attitudes in yourself
In your world

1/6    How do you see the effects of racism in yourself

How can you alter these effects in yourself -    in the world around you

9/24 What do you see as me – strong etc.
“Why are we teachers” afraid of what they see of each other Subject matter commitment not people.

Off the topic - anxieties boredom - spoken
slightly then back to same. Why not dealt with. dissatisfied after class
9/30 R.[13] - acute
A. - disappointed
F. - whats the topic

lots of abstract
J. - what she thinks of J.
L. - I don’t see the point

A. - I’m thinking of camping
T. - moral & ethical
question - I stole a blanket right or wrong Christianity & Judaism the same
. - how can you say that

10/1 A. absent program
L. talked
J. [illegible] hour – feeling not intellect
PR not black struggle
J. after class - A. is bigot

10/6 Confrontation C. & J.

Alliance between J. & J

A. by J.
One
10/9 J. feels personally affronted by A.’s /another’s attitude

A. has made a statement that has colored J.’s attitude toward him. She has confronted him with it. Whats going here?

There’s no difference between Black & White – People are people –
Someone takes each side

10/9 F.
play the woman

Couldn’t - I said because they equate different and inferior Reps
10/23 F. says I not your mother Suppose she was
what would you say to her

J. too - lets role play. you help A.
I’ll help F.
Help - I mean feed lines

Situation - Ma - I think
your a [illegible] prejudiced attitude toward hippies.

[Undated]
In your daily living
Give 3 examples of actual ways in which you yourself can function to positively counteract racism
Be Specific

[Undated]
Midterm for “Race and the Urban Situation”

Power steps back only in the face of more power.

Do you find this an accurate statement in terms of history of black people in America? Discuss four historical occurrences from Before the Mayflower as examples illustrating your answer.

[Undated]
who am I
experience 5 years ago
experience – recent
similes– sneeze – slap
experience         – fear
“          - anger
“          - anger
disc. Of someone disliked
disc. Of someone liked
10. “
11. “

[1972]
3/72 - Racism

Project. - we talk a lot

I wanted some idea of how you see yourself functioning due 5/3 – 5 page
choose a situation + enter it or evaluate one you already are in & put into practice one of the ways you counteract racism
ie. ongoing contact write up in detail
[illegible]
why did you choose this situation or how are you connected with it

who if any are the others involved
a record of your actions over a 2 week period & why

what are the observed results
do they differ from your expectations
do you intend to continue or alter tactics

COURSE PROPOSAL

Tentative Title

BS/LIT. 2XX – Afro American Poetry And The Black Aesthetic Course Description
What is the Black Aesthetic in relation to poetry? Does Afro-American Poetry begin with Phillis Wheatley or Leroi Jones?
OR: Are Afro-American Poetry and Black Poetry the same?
By examining the poetry, students will explore traditional and contemporary themes within the work of a number of Black Poets, and will attempt to identify some of the vital forces at work within Black Poetry today, relevance to the contemporary scene. In addition to readings in all periods of Afro-American Poetry, students will be expected to attend outside readings of contemporary Black Poets.

Prerequisites
Eng. 101; Eng.102; or instructor’s permission

Rationale
Black Poetry is one of the most dynamic elements within American Literature today. In addition to becoming acquainted with who the Black Poets are and the nature of their work, it is necessary for us to develop real critical standards by which to evaluate this poetry. To do this, we must understand the historical and aesthetic significance of Black Poetry, as well examine those roots within the Afro-American experience out of which this poetry springs.

Relation to Existing Courses
There is no course offered at the College which deals with this area of American literature, nor this aspect of the Literature of the Black Experience.

[Undated]
We consider Bl literature thematically—

Black Aesthetic as evolving set of standards — values by which we measure Black art. No system of values has worth unless it aims to make us better than we are.

What do I mean by better? By better I mean for each of us—more who we are. That we develop then from Igyougus

Now what does this mean for Black Americans? We have been driven from ourselves, whitened, made ashamed of what we now call black, & therefore of ourselves. Much of our early literature was directed not to black people or for black people but to white people about non-blackness.

[13] At this point in her journals, Lorde begins recording various classroom interactions between her students. We have kept their names anonymous.