African American Studies Commons^™

Morality And Nonviolent Protest: The Birmingham Campaign, Lindsey A. Mahn

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

Birmingham, Alabama was a racially segregated city up until 1963 when members of Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) began a movement to stop discrimination against the African American population. Though the movement itself was conducted in a peaceful nonviolent manner, opposition from the white civic authorities was often cruel and bloody. Images of protesters both young and old were projected across the news and made the American people think deeply about the problems within their country. Eventually, the protests paid off and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, prohibiting racial discrimination in public accommodations, facilities, transportation and the workplace. …

Death On Display: Understanding The Publicized Eulogies Of African American Cultural Figures As An Empowering Rhetorical Discourse, Melody Shelton Williams

English Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation names and identifies the African American Eulogic Tradition as a specific custom within Black culture in the U.S. that originated during slavery and resulted from a fusion of West African burial traditions and Protestant Christianity. The emergence of the Black Church as an influential social institution led by free Blacks cemented the use of funerary practices to support and preserve the bonds of community. This project explores how modern eulogists collectively empower African American audiences through their delivery of Eulogic oratory by analyzing the contextual framework and rhetorical modes of eulogies delivered for Whitney Houston, James Brown, Michael …

Beyond Black And White: An Examination Of Afrocentric Facial Features And Sex In Criminal Sentencing, Amanda Mae Petersen

Dissertations and Theses

Research on race and sentencing is increasingly moving beyond racial category analyses to include more subtle attributes such as skin tone and facial features. In keeping with this progression, this research examines the extent to which convicted offenders' Afrocentric facial features interact with sex in order to create longer criminal sentences for stereotypically Black males and females. A random sample of Black and White males and females currently serving prison sentences in the state of Oregon were selected for inclusion in the study. A preliminary regression analysis was run in order to determine the effect of broad racial category on …

Dominican Gaga Music And Dance: The Remaking Of A Spiritual Performance In The City Of New York, Marimer Berberena

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study analyzed the Haitian-Dominican spiritual and cultural expression of Gaga in New York City through the group Gaga Pa'l Pueblo (GPP). Text analysis, participant observation, and qualitative analysis of interviews with twelve participants in this activity were used to conduct this study. I demonstrate the existence of a transnational intergenerational and interethnic sociocultural interaction that is simultaneously public and private, ritualistic and entertaining, secular and spiritual. I argue that it is not a matter of putting Gaga in a spiritual-secular dichotomy, but rather about understanding that even if GPP is not a true reflection of what Gaga is in …

Existing But Not Living: Neo-Civil Death And The Carceral State, Calvinjohn Nagel Smiley

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In 2010, the United States prison releases exceeded prison admission for the first time since the Bureau of Justice Statistics began collecting jurisdictional data in 1977. Prisoner reentry--the transition from prison to community--has grown exponentially in the 21st century. While individuals are coming home in larger quantities, many formerly incarcerated men and women lose social, political, and economic rights, otherwise known as civil death. The fundamental purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the impact of civil death on prisoner reentry. More specifically, how does the loss of civil rights construct notions of citizenship for recently released men and women? …

The Over-Education Of The Negro: Academic Novels, Higher Education And The Black Intellectual, Archie Lavelle Porter

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation focuses on the academic novel - a literary genre which fictionalizes the lives of students and professors in institutions of higher education. In particular this project focuses on academic novels written by black writers and which address issues in black higher education. This dissertation has two concurrent objectives: 1) to examine the academic novel as a particular genre of literature, and to highlight some specific novels on black American identity within this genre, and 2) to illustrate the pedagogical value of academic fiction. Through the ancient practice of storytelling, academic novels link the travails of the individual student …

Racial Classifications, Biomarkers, And The Challenges Of Health Disparities Research In The African Diaspora., Latrica E. Best, John Chenault

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Current scholarly research, both sociologically and biologically based, continues to be inundated with notions of race operating as a biological construct and as a proxy for poor health outcomes. Medical research and practice have fostered an environment where diagnostics, treatment, and the creation and dissemination of drug regimens often are influenced by a patient’s skin color and ethnicity. The emergence of biological markers in social science-based surveys has fueled recent health disparities research that is shaping the meaning, interpretation, and policy of the health of people of color. Using hypertension as an example, this paper focuses on ways in which …

32nd Annual African American Commencement, 2014, San Jose State University, Associated Students

African American Commencement

32nd African American Commencement

"Black Grad: Creating a Legacy through Black Excellence." The 2014 African American Commencement ceremony was held on Friday, May 23, 2014 at Morris Dailey Auditorium at San Jose State University.

Opening Remarks To Outing Lorraine At The Schomburg Center, Shawn(Ta) Smith-Cruz

Publications and Research

This article is an edit of the opening remarks for the event held on May 22nd, 2014 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture as part of the In The Life Series supplying Black LGBT programming coordinated by Steven Fullwood. Outing Lorraine included panelists: Alexis DeVeaux, Joi Gresham, and Steven Fullwood and was moderated by Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz. Opening remarks provide a biographical description of Lorraine Hansberry's life, prepare the audience for a conversation on the implications for "outing" a black iconic figure, details the purpose for use of primary and secondary sources when, and provides a bibliography for …

Don’T Bow Down, Andrew B. Gibbs

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Perpetuating African ancestral customs, Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans avoid the African American identity crises illuminated by the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance. The poetry of Langston Hughes, Claude McKay and Waring Cuney incorporate W.E.B. DuBois’ double-consciousness theory to reveal the identity issues and ancestral alienation plaguing African Americans at the turn of the twentieth-century. In comparison, unique political and social circumstances in New Orleans allowed enslaved Africans to practice their ancestral customs weekly. The preservation of this heritage fostered a black community in New Orleans rich in traditions, pride and self-conviction. The development of Mardi Gras Indian culture …

Implicit Prejudice And Its Implications For How Communities Should Respond To Racial Injustices, Harry Kainen

Undergraduate Theses—Unrestricted

In the spring of 2013, a racially controversial incident occurred on the Washington University Campus. The incident raised questions about the racial tolerance of the university community as well as exactly who should be held responsible for the injustice. Most importantly, the community’s response to the incident exemplified how a community with the potential for substantial collective action can fail to mobilize and improve when they are called upon to do so. This paper examines recent psychological research that studies the existence of subconscious racial prejudices in order to examine its implications in community responses to racial injustices. Results show …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 89, No. 54, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Crumbie, Trey. Almost There – Downing University Center
• Williams, Joanna. Campus Undergoes Culture Shift with Downing University Center Renovation
• Harrison, Taylor. Challenges Loom with Student Health Services Privatization
• Prochazka, Tyler. Kentucky Retains Majority of Gatton Academy of Mathematics & Science Graduates Due to Financial Barriers
• Conniff, Ben. Spiderman Swings & Misses in New Sequel – Movies
• Pait, Ryan. 10 TV Episodes to Help You Not Do Anything – Television
• Allen, Whitney. Shave to Save Hosted in Honor of Greek Brother – Farmhouse Fraternity, Chris Hancock, Charity
• Rogers, Shelby. Circus …

Ua12/2/1 2014 Graduation Special Section, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Special graduation edition of the College Heights Herald.

• Keyana Boka - Student Government Association
• Joanna Williams - College Heights Herald
• Paige Freeman - Spirit Masters
• Katie Honadle - Talisman
• Gary Ransdell
• Yulizza Henao Barragan – Latin American Students
• Then & Now - 2010, 2014

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 89, No. 53, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Burton, Kristina. WKU Costume Shop Brings Theatre to Life – Theatre & Dance
• Burton, Kristina. Center Stage – Theatre & Dance
• Lawson, Anna. Blind Student Finds Comfort on the Hill – Sam Moore
• Prochazka, Tyler. U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant Funds Agriculture Department Research on Food Safety
• Marsupial Awards
• Hunton, Ryan. Spiritual Health Means Finding Your Purpose
• Boyd, Kayla. Film Festival Returns to WKU – Journalism & Broadcasting
• Corum, John. Vice President Assistant to Retire – Judith Wimpee – Facilities & Campus Services
• Clark, Mike. Learning from the Best …

When Parties Swap Platforms: The Changing Racial Policies Of Democrats And Republicans, Charles O. Boyd

Oglethorpe Journal of Undergraduate Research

This article examines the shift in the Democratic and Republican parties with regard to the rights of African Americans. Debunking partisan distortions of history on both sides, "When Parties Swap Platforms" demonstrates that prior to the 1960s, the Republican Party was more supportive of African Americans' rights and that during the 1960s, the Democratic Party became the more supportive institution. Evidence is also provided showing that Hubert Humphrey played a much larger role in changing the Democratic Party's stance on civil rights than is commonly known.

Aa Ms 08 N. T. Swezey's Son & Co. Tin Sign Finding Aid, Christina E. Walker

Search the Manuscript Collection (Finding Aids)

Description:

N. T. Swezey (Noah Terry) (1814-1888) was a flour merchant in New York City. He ran a successful business for over forty years at 176 South St., and was one of the founders of the New York Produce Exchange. This collection contains a reproduction of a sign advertising Northwest Consolidated Milling Company flour. The sign depicts the figure of a black child standing behind and slightly below the figure of a white child. The white figure is sitting on a container of the Northwestern Consolidated Milling Company’s flour and is holding a slice of white bread. Both children have …

Aa Ms 11 Lee Forest Figurines Finding Aid, Christina E. Walker

Search the Manuscript Collection (Finding Aids)

Description:

Lee Forest, Director of Environmental Services at the University of Southern Maine, donated the figurines in 2002. In the early years of the twentieth century the commoditization of Aunt Jemima expanded beyond commercial flour mix to include a diverse array of products such as rag dolls, dish towels, cookie jars and salt-and-pepper shakers. Eventually, a husband was added, Uncle Mose, and two children, Diana and Wade. Household notions depicting the family continued to be produced into the 1960s, when the civil rights and black consciousness movements encouraged an examination of the symbolism behind representations of African Americans. The collection …

Aa Ms 10 Ku Klux Klan Photograph Finding Aid, Christina E. Walker

Search the Manuscript Collection (Finding Aids)

Description:

The Ku Klux Klan Photograph is a black-and-white image of a KKK march that took place in Lincoln, Maine in 1927. The print measures 8 inches by 9.5 inches.

Date Range:

1927

Size of Collection:

0.10 ft.

How Does Your Garden Grow: How Planting Seeds Of Hope Inspire A Community Of Gifted African-American Learners To Flourish In An Early Childhood Setting, Danielle Elaine Macneal-Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

"Knowledge is like a garden: if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested"

-African Proverb

Each day, African-American children are rarely given the opportunity to reach their full potential and flourish in American school systems. There continues to be a disparity in the number of African-Americans in the gifted population. When identified early, and with appropriate educational opportunities, young, culturally diverse gifted learners will be more likely to have long-term educational success. By utilizing an educational criticism methodology, this study discusses the importance of gifted education for African-American, early childhood students, by answering the question, how does The Hope …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 89, No. 52, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Rogers, Shelby. Gary Ransdell to Push for 4.8% Tuition Increase
• Phillips, Jonah. Bill Powell Survives Rough Waters to Carry on Legacy – Swimming
• Parker, Jacob & Jackson French. Student Pulls Gun by Bates-Runner Hall, Arrested on Campus – Michael Dearborn
• Conniff, Ben. Five Films to Induce Finals Procrastination – Movies
• Pait, Ryan. HBO’s Veep Continues to Find Its Identity Amid Stand-Out Writing – Television
• Holloway, Kae. Mean Girls Celebrates A Fetch Tenth Anniversary – Fashion
• French, Jackson. Crimes Remain Steady on Campus – WKU Police
• Mathews, Mackenzie. Professors Discuss …