What Questions or Topics Should Be on the Final Exam ….

Greetings, Class Community.

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Once you are signed in, take a moment to post at least three questions or topics that you think should appear on the final exam. You may also want to take a moment to reply to the comments and suggestions of others. Let the contributor and class community know if you are interested in reviewing that information on the final exam or not interested in revisiting the topic.

Also, we discussed how I integrate and use some of the theories bell hooks presented in her book Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom. More information about bell hooks can be accessed here. If you would like to read a printed copy of her pedagogical or teaching theories, please email me directly.

Sincerely,

Dr. Hill

photo: Landra Lewis, DaMaris B. Hill, Melissa Harris-Perry, bell hooks, Ann Grundy in the green room at The Lyric Theater and Cultural Arts Center for The Poverty Forum sponsored by the Community Action Council 

Cyber Racism and Electronic Lynching Lecture with Archivist Stacie Williams

Greetings, Class Community.

Today we participated in a lecture about cyber racism and electronic lynching with University of Kentucky's archivist Stacie Williams. 

She opened with illustrating the differences in these magazine covers that use the exact same photo of O.J. Simpson.  She discussed how one cover capitalizes on the stereotypes that portray African Americans as savage and intimidating.  She also discussed how these stereotypes and the propaganda about 'racial purity' are historically linked to lynching.  

Williams also defined: lynching, cyber lynching and information architecture. Williams discussed how theories associated with information architecture may explain why some web search results display negative stereotypes about African Americans. 

The lecture concluded by discussing boolean searching and how to avoid being bombarded by websites and links that may not address your information needs and academic research.  

During the question and answer session, the class viewed a lecture about African Americans and Technology by Dr. Mark Anthony Neal.  Then we discussed twitter and electronic archiving.  

A Day In The Life: Blacks At The Cutting Edge Of Innovation  "NPR's Tell Me More is again using social media to reach out to a new community of leaders — this time, to recognize black innovators in technology. African-Americans represent just 5 percent of America's scientists and engineers, according to a 2010 study by the National Science Foundation."

Please take a moment to learn more about the #NPRBlacksinTech movement and participate in the twitter discussion #NPRBlacksinTech.  Follow @blkintechnology @blackfemcoders @BlackGirlsCode  @BWIcomputing @MyBlackTechnology @digifeminist  @iainstitute 

Stay in the 'know'.  More links:

• Blacks In Technology on NPR #nprblacksintech#tellmemorenpr
• Getting To Know Black Innovators, One Tweet At A Time
• I’m the official ‘Hashtagologist™’ for #NPRBlacksinTech – Here’s how YOU can participate!
• Why Isn't Open Source A Gateway For Coders Of Color?

Please take a moment to reintroduce our class community to the terms and definitions that Stacie Williams used in her lecture when answering the following question. How did this  lecture affirm, change or challenge your understanding of lynching, African American Studies and the connection between information architecture and web surfing?

Cape Town Summer Internship Program at The University of Kentucky

Greetings, Class Community. 

Dr. Stephen R Davis will be holding an info session for the Cape Town Summer Internship Program this Thursday at 5PM in Bradley 207.  

Students who are looking for a way to live, study, and volunteer in Africa, AND earn UK credit at the same time, then this is the program for them.  If it isn't too much trouble could you please pass on this invitation to any interested parties.

The program will place students with one of three non-profit organizations that work on the following issues; environmental education, STEM curriculum development and primary teacher training, and building sustainable non-profit organizations through fundraising and social media.  Students will also participate in a seminar on the social, economic and political challenges facing post-apartheid South Africa.  

In short, this eight-week program allows students to make a difference in the lives of South Africans living in the townships, gives them the opportunity to gain valuable real world experience and transferable skills, and earns them seven credit hours toward graduation.

If students cannot attend the info session but would like to know more about the program please have them check out our official website (http://bit.ly/1g4gj8Q) or contact me at steve.davis@uky.edu.

Nkosi kakhulu/Baie dankie/Thanks a lot,

StephenR Davis
- Assistant Professor
Department of History at 
University of Kentucky

Afrocentrism

Greetings, Class Community.

In class we discussed Dr. Molefi Kete Asante's theories concerning Afrocentrism.   How do theories associated with Afrocentrism affirm, complicate or change your understanding of a.) African American Studies  b.) formal education and c.) World History?

Some of the points associated with Afrocentrism we discussed:

• European civilization originated in Africa, particularly Ancient Egypt
• Evidence of advanced cultures in other parts of Africa that refute cultural inferiority
• America is not a melting pot. Assimilation meant rejecting African cultures for African Americans.
• “Afrocentricity is the idea that African people and interests must be viewed as actors and agents in human history, rather than as marginal to the European historical experience – which has been institutionalized as universal." - Dr. Molefi Kete Asante