#AP African American Studies: The Night Before Review 🚀

Hey! Let's get you feeling super confident for your AP African American Studies exam tomorrow. We're going to zoom through the key stuff, hit the high points, and make sure you're ready to rock. No stress, just focused review. Let's do this!

#1. What is African American Studies?

Think of African American Studies as a super cool lens 👓 for understanding the Black experience. It's not just history – it's everything!

#Interdisciplinary Approach and Analysis

• Interdisciplinary: It pulls from history, literature, sociology, psychology, economics, and more to give you the full picture.
• Rigorous Inquiry: We're not just reading stories; we're using scholarly methods to dig deep.
• Roots in Movements: It's got deep roots in Black artistic, intellectual, and political movements like the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement.
• Unique Perspective: Offers a unique lens to understand contemporary Black freedom struggles.
• Global Connections: Explores the evolution of ideas about Africa and its connections to the diaspora.

#Origins and Contemporary Relevance

• 1960s-70s Birth: It emerged during the Black Power movement.
• Pioneering Scholars: Influenced by giants like W.E.B. Du Bois, Carter G. Woodson, and John Hope Franklin.
• Evolving Field: It's always growing to address current issues like police brutality and health disparities.
• Framework for Justice: Provides a framework for understanding the ongoing fight for racial justice.

#African History and Diaspora

• Global Scope: Studies the history and cultures of Africa and its diaspora communities worldwide.
• Slave Trade Impact: Examines the impact of the transatlantic slave trade on African societies.
• Global Influence: Explores the role of Africa and its diaspora in shaping global history.
• Contributions: Investigates the contributions of Africans and their descendants to art, music, science, and more.
• Ongoing Connections: Analyzes the connections between Africa and its diaspora.

#2. How Did It Get into US Universities?

#Civil Rights and Education

• Desegregation: The Civil Rights Movement led to more Black students entering predominantly white colleges.
• Challenges: Black students faced discrimination and a lack of support.
• Advocacy: Students pushed for Black Studies programs to meet their unique needs.

#Black Campus Movement

• Student Protests: From 1965-1972, students protested for Black Studies programs.
• Demands: They wanted to study Black history and culture, hire Black faculty, and get more support.
• Key Role: This movement was crucial in establishing African American Studies as a field.

#3. Early Africa and Diaspora

#Africa's Ancestral Significance

• Birthplace of Humanity: Africa is where it all began!
• Early Human Fossils: The oldest fossils are found in Africa (Ethiopia, Morocco).
• Early Societies: African American Studies examines the development of early African societies and their contributions.
• Pride and Connection: It fosters a sense of pride and connection to a rich heritage.

#Dispelling Misconceptions of Africa

• Challenging Stereotypes: It fights against Western stereotypes of Africa as primitive.
• Interdisciplinary Research: Uses research to show the complexity of early African societies.
• Sophisticated Societies: Early African societies were advanced and globally connected.
• Examples: Think of kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
• Innovations: Africans made huge contributions to math, astronomy, medicine, and more.

#4. Required Sources

#Photo of Black Student Union Strike for Black Studies at San Francisco State College, 1968

• Watershed Moment: This strike was a turning point for academic representation and racial equity in higher education.
• Student-Led: Students demanded a Black Studies department.
• Challenging Eurocentrism: They challenged the Eurocentric curriculum.
• Catalyst: This movement led to the development of African American Studies programs nationwide.

#Schedule of Courses for Black and Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College, 1972

• Milestone: This schedule represents a key moment in ethnic studies programs.
• Diverse Perspectives: It shows the growing recognition of diverse perspectives in academics.
• Intersectionality: The inclusion of both Black and Puerto Rican studies highlights the intersection of racial and ethnic experiences.

#Program for the First National Council for Black Studies Annual Conference, 1975

• Watershed Moment: This conference was crucial for the development of African American Studies as a discipline.
• Scholarly Collaboration: Scholars, educators, and activists came together to establish standards.
• Institutionalization: This marked the growing professionalization of Black Studies in higher education.

#Final Exam Focus 🎯

Okay, here's what to really focus on:

• Key Concepts: Interdisciplinarity, diaspora, intersectionality, systemic racism, and social justice.
• Historical Context: The Civil Rights Movement, Black Power movement, and the Black Campus Movement.
• Early Africa: Understand the importance of early African societies and their contributions.
• Required Sources: Be able to analyze the provided images and documents and explain their significance.

#Exam Tips

• Time Management: Don't spend too long on one question. Move on and come back if needed.
• Read Carefully: Pay close attention to the wording of each question.
• Connect the Dots: AP questions often combine multiple concepts. Show how they relate.
• Use Evidence: Back up your answers with specific examples and details.
• Stay Calm: You've got this! Take a deep breath and trust your preparation.

Focus on the connections between the historical movements, the development of the field, and its contemporary relevance. This is a common theme in both MCQs and FRQs.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following best describes the interdisciplinary nature of African American Studies? a) Focusing solely on historical events. b) Integrating various fields like history, literature, and sociology. c) Primarily studying African languages. d) Concentrating on political science.

2. The Black Campus Movement of the 1960s and 1970s primarily advocated for: a) The integration of all-white colleges. b) The establishment of Black Studies programs and departments. c) The removal of all Black faculty from universities. d) The end of all forms of higher education.

Short Answer Question

Briefly explain the significance of the 1968 Black Student Union strike at San Francisco State College in the development of African American Studies.

Free Response Question

Analyze the impact of the transatlantic slave trade on the development of African diaspora cultures. In your response, consider the social, cultural, and political consequences of this historical event and its lasting impacts on the African diaspora.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, concise thesis statement that addresses the prompt.
• Evidence (3 points): Specific examples and details about the social, cultural, and political consequences of the slave trade.
• Analysis (3 points): Explanation of the long-term impacts of the slave trade on the African diaspora.
• Synthesis (1 point): Connecting the impacts of the slave trade to contemporary issues and struggles for racial justice.

You've got this! Go get that 5! 💪