Teaching Global African Diaspora: Final Paper Assignment
Overview
The final paper assignment asks students to use what they have learned about historical events as part of global processes in a course on the Global African Diaspora. It asks students to explain the historical conditions that may have led people from an African country to move to the United States, as well as any economic and cultural reasons. It asks students to describe the nature of the informal and formal economies in which African immigrants participate. And finally to explain the challenges (legal, financial, cultural, etc.) that African immigrants face and the ways in which they deal with those challenges.
Final Paper Assignment Instructions
In this class, you have learned to think about historical events as part of global processes. Through the assigned readings and by engaging in global current events, the economic, political, and cultural significance of each have come to light. Paul Stoller’s Money Has No Smell offers an anthropological case study that illustrates how personal histories, culture, formal and informal economies, local and national politics influence Africans to migrate to the United States. Use Money Has No Smell, the documentary Dollars and Dreams and our textbook, Twentieth Century and Beyond to offer an analysis about why certain people chose to move from an African country to the United States. Explain the historical conditions that may have led to the move, as well as any economic and cultural reasons. Describe the nature of the informal and formal economies in which African immigrants participate. Finally explain the challenges (legal, financial, cultural, etc.) that African immigrants face and the ways in which they deal with those challenges.
About This Resource
The sample assignment included here was submitted by a participant in a one-day virtual workshop entitled, "Teaching the Global African Diaspora" for world history teachers hosted by the Alliance for Learning in World History. This was a draft document that may subsequently have been revised in light of feedback and discussion during the event.
This resource was contributed by Dr. Robin P. Chapdelaine, Department of History, Duquesne University.