This is a discussion/debate is about the best (most accurate) identity and name for people of African cultural origin inhabiting the United States of America (USA). This video clip was made in 1989 and appeared on the McNeil and Lehrer Show. The discussion/debate was moderated by Charlene Gunter-Halt and is presented here with an introductory clip. The introductory clip presents an edited summary of surveyed persons and celebrities responding to the question their prefered label for the people of African cultural descent. It sets the stage for the following discussion.
Professors Note: Question 1 is about your accuracy and attention to detail. When answering question 2, don’t limit yourself to the video clips. Look each term up in the best dictionary you can get access to (remember to ‘cite your source’ – ask your English teacher how to do this if you don’t know how). Finally, you should do a couple of internet searches (Google, Yahoo) to see how the community of web developers sees things when you enter the various identities in the search window. Question 3 is not really written somewhere or something in the video clips, it is the way you understand the relationship. The challenge is for each of you to explain to me the significance of the relationship succinctly. Get help whereever you have to but cite all information sources that do not originate with you. Read ALL of the questions carefully.
1) Who were the panelists and what organizations did each belong to? What did each say was the most empowering identity (what should descendents of Africans in America be called and what reason was given)?
2) Take a position on which identity YOU think would be most beneficial to people of African descent in the United States. If you disagree with all of them and have a counter suggestion then make your case. Show us what you got and defend the position with eloquence.
3) Finally, in your own words, describe the relationship between the collective’s identity and the collective’s label (name).
The history that we are exploring is looking at significant actors and processes chronologically. Step 1, we have to comprehend the names of the people we study to help us distinguish data that is significant from that which is not. From the historical perspective we want to examine data at different levels and from different angles to construct composite models that illuminate life-themes and life-rhythms.
The people we are examining are not merely acted upon from the outside. They are part of every story as the cause and the effect of human dramas. They ARE the story and that is how this class will look at them. We will discuss this culture-centric model after the clips above are responded to and a collective discussion is had.
Email your responses to the class email address - or in the discussion
tag on WebCt.