African American Studies - AASP 201
Directions: Answer four of these questions with a well-thought-out paragraph response (about 225-250words). Each question is worth 25 points. Refer to texts we have read so far in the class to answer the questions, using quotes and paraphrases with MLA citation style..Up to 5 points/answer will be taken off for grammar and spelling errors. Submit your responses as an MS Word document to the assignment.
1. Some people criticized Frederick Douglass for his negative views of Christianity in his 1845 autobiography. Using the complete Appendix at the end of The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, explain what Douglass means by "Dark and terrible as is this picture, I hold it to be strictly true of the overwhelming mass of professed Christians in America.
They strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Could anything be more true of our churches? They would be shocked at the proposition of fellowshipping a sheep-stealer; and at the same time they hug to their communion a man-stealer, and brand me with being an infidel, if I find fault with them for it."
2. What was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and what was its impact upon slaves who wanted to escape to the Northern U.S. to gain their freedom? What was the response of Northern States to the Fugitive Slave Act?
3. What was "The Second Middle Passage" - when and why did it occur, how many people were involved, and what impact did it have on American slaves?
4. What social benefits did slaves have when they lived in or near a town? What opportunities were sometimes open to them? Why were slaves living on large, rural plantations at a disadvantage to those living in or near towns?
5. Who started the African Methodist-Episcopal church? When was it started and why? Why did the church achieve long-lasting success?
6. Considering the fact that the United States was founded on the principles of "liberty and justice for all," why is the study of African-Americans so important? What are two of the most important lessons students should gain from African American studies?
7. Define primary and secondary texts. Why is it hard to know about slave life prior to 1800? Find a secondary text in the UMUC Library that discusses slavery prior to 1800 and note which primary texts it uses.
8. Who was Margaret Garner? What does her story, as well as the Green and Douglass slave narratives, tell us about how African Americans felt about slavery? What famous book is based upon the events in Margaret Garner's life?