Global Reparations and The African Diaspora - Crafting Democratic Futures

Course Description:

This course focuses on global and local models of reparations that can be used for punishment as well as repair for harm. What reparations are, what things can perform as reparations, what tools can be used to pursue such repair for harm, and the varied uses of reparations are evaluated in this course. We explore models of global, regional, national, local, community, university, and family level reparations efforts. Students will consider the role of statecraft, power, structure, identity, legal standing, and social movements in the selection and design of reparations used to recognize, restore, compensate, and repair harm.

Course Agreement: Students enrolled in Global Reparations and the African Diaspora course are assumed to be responsible individuals who wish to be intellectually engaged. It is the expectation that students will attend class and will complete all assignments within the designated time allowed by the Professor. Out of respect for all members of the class community, special allowances for late assignments will not be tolerated unless a special request is made by the Office of Undergraduate Studies. The professor reserves the right to make changes to the syllabus throughout the semester.

Course Requirements:

Class Participation (10% of course grade):

Students are expected to attend class and complete the assigned readings prior to class meetings. Class discussion is vital to comprehending theories and concepts. Material is covered in class that is not covered in the assigned readings. Students should read the news daily to maintain current knowledge of global events. If you attend every class session and never contribute to class discussion, you will earn an 85% B for class participation.

Country Reparations Assignment: (30% of course grade):

The purpose of this class is to consider how to address mass human rights violations. We explore models of reparations. For this assignment, each student will choose two countries. Reparations efforts related to the chosen countries will be documented and the design of these efforts evaluated. A written assignment, PowerPoint presentation, and handout are required.

Assignment Details:

An assignment rubric will be emailed to you and reviewed in class.
The written assignment is due on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, via email to me at [email protected] by 5:30pm EST.
Formal class presentations with PowerPoint and handouts will be distributed during class on that day. They will be submitted as part of your graded assignment to me before the student’s presentation is given.

The written assignment, formal class presentation in PowerPoint, and one page handout are due to me before class by 5:30pm EST. They should be submitted via email at [email protected]. I will distribute the handout to the class electronically

Reparations Entrepreneur Assignment (30% of course grade):

A Reparations Entrepreneur is a person or organization who creates and designs reparations to address harm. Each student will choose a Reparations Entrepreneur. The assignment requires documenting the reparations effort, the design of reparations, and the role of the Reparations Entrepreneur. A written assignment, PowerPoint presentation, and handout are required.

Assignment Details:

An assignment rubric will be emailed to you and reviewed in class.
The written assignment is due on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, via email to me at [email protected] by 5:30pm EST.
Formal class presentations with PowerPoint and handouts will be distributed during class on that day. They will be submitted as part of your graded assignment to me before the student’s presentation is given.
The written assignment, formal class presentation in Powerpoint, and one page handout are due to me before class by 5:30pm EST. They should be submitted via email at [email protected]. I will distribute the handout to the class electronically.

Case Study: Design or Change a Reparations Model (30% of course grade):

Each student is required to conduct a research project focused on a case study of human rights violations. Students will collect and analyze transitional justice information relevant to the selected case and design a reparations model or make changes to an existing one to address the stated abuses. A written assignment, PowerPoint presentation, and handout are required.

Assignment Details:

An assignment rubric will be emailed to you and reviewed in class.
The written assignment is due on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, via email to me at [email protected] by 5:30pm EST.
Formal class presentations with PowerPoint and handouts will be distributed during class on that day. They will be submitted as part of your graded assignment to me before the student’s presentation is given.
The written assignment, formal class presentation in Powerpoint, and one page handout are due to me before class by 5:30pm EST. They should be submitted via email at [email protected]. I will distribute the handout to the class electronically.

Grading Scale:

I will use the following scale for the assignment of grades:

*98-100 = A+

93-97 = A

90-92 = A-

87-89 = B+

83-86 = B

80-82 = B-

77-79 = C+

73-76 = C

70-72 = C-

67-69 = D+

63-66 = D

60-62 = D-

0-59 = F

Grades are calculated from the raw scores (“points”) earned by the students. *A student must earn a 100% A+ on every assignment and class participation to receive an “A+” in this class.

Course Structure

Some course sessions will be delivered through the Zoom Platform.Throughout the semester, you will participate in a blend of individual and group activities accessed thru SpeleLearn (Moodle). The SpeleLearn (Moodle) course will house links to YouTube, zoom and other Internet-based technologies. Course activities will consist of reading textbook chapters, viewing power points presentations, viewing videos and webcasts, discussion forums, take home examinations and group assignments.

Technology Requirements

A wired Internet connection (DSL, LAN, or cable connection is desirable with Bandwidth of 512Kbps for connecting to SpeleLearn (Moodle) course management system is recommended).
System Requirements (Click to view)
Webcam with microphone

Students are expected to attend class and to arrive on time.

Successful completion of this course is contingent upon the student’s ability to discuss, analyze and apply theoretical premises as they relate to the understanding of social behavior, social issues and interactions. Attendance and class discussion will help to facilitate this process. It is expected that students will take responsibility for their own learning. All students will be expected to arrive on time.

Table 1: Class Meeting Days and Important Dates

Week #	Monday	No classes
1	1/18	First Day of Our Class
2	1/25
3	2/1
4	2/8
5	2/15
6	2/22
7	3/1Assignment #1 Due	Assignment #1: Country Models of Reparations: Due:1)Written Assignment 2)In-Class Presentation (PowerPoint and handout)
8	3/8
9	3/15	Spring Break (No class)
10	3/22
11	3/29
12	4/5Assignment #2 Due	Assignment #2:The Role of Reparations Entrepreneurs in Models of Reparations:Due:1)Written Assignment 2)In-Class Presentation (PowerPoint and handout)
13	4/12
14	4/19
15	4/26
16	5/3Assignment #3 Due	Assignment #3:Case Study: Creating or Changing a Reparations Model to Address a Case of Human Rights AbusesDue:1)Written Assignment 2)In-Class Presentation (PowerPoint and handout)

*Class presentations for each assignment are scheduled the due date of each written assignment.

SEMESTER READING SCHEDULE

Week 1 (1/18):

Introductions

Overview of the Course

Week 2 (1/24):

What is IR?

No Assigned Reading

Wolfe, Stephanie. 2013. The Politics of Reparations and Apologies. Springer.

ISBN-13: 978-1461491842

Week 9 (3/14):

Diaspora Reparations: Africa and the Caribbean

Araujo, Anna Lucia. 2017. Reparations for Slavery and the Slave Trade: A Transnational Comparative History.

ISBN-13: 978-1350010604

Week 10 (3/21):

Diaspora Reparations: African-American Reparations

Darity, William and Kirsten Mullen. 2020. From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century. University of North Carolina Press.

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1469654973

Week 11 (3/28):

Reparations Entrepreneurs

TBA

Week 12 (4/4):

Reparations Entrepreneurs

Assignment Due: Reparations Entrepreneur Assignment and In-class Presentation

Week 13 (4/11):

Cities and Reparations

TBA

Week 14 (4/18):

Universities and Reparations

Wilder, Craig Steven. Ebony and Ivory: Race, Slavery, and the Troubled History of America’s Universities.

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1608194025

Bloomsbury Publishing

Harris, Leslie et al. 2019. Slavery and the University: Histories and Legacies. University of Georgia Press.

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0820354422

Week 15 (4/25):

Emerging Reparations Issues: AI, Climate Change, and Pandemics

TBA

Week 16 (5/2):

Assignment Due: Case Study Assignment and In-class Presentation

Week 1 (1/18):

Overview of the course

Week 2 (1/25):

What is International Relations?

What are Human Rights?

International Bill of Rights

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

https://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)

https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)

https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cescr.aspx

Week 3 (2/1):

Wolfe, Stephanie. 2013. The Politics of Reparations and Apologies. Springer.

Araujo, Anna Lucia. 2017. Reparations for Slavery and the Slave Trade: A Transnational Comparative History.

Darity, William and Kirsten Mullen. 2020. From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century. University of North Carolina Press.

Wilder, Craig Steven. Ebony and Ivory: Race, Slavery, and the Troubled History of America’s Universities.

Suggested Reading:

Harris, Leslie et al. 2019. Slavery and the University: Histories and Legacies. University of Georgia Press.