Graduate Studies
Critical Analysis of African American History and Culture through Museum Artifacts
Course: Graduate Seminar in African American Studies / U.S. History / Cultural Studies
Duration: 120 minutes
Topic: Advanced Historical and Cultural Analysis Using Artifacts from the African American Museum Repository
This lesson plan for graduate students encourages advanced critical engagement with African American history through artifacts. It emphasizes the application of theoretical frameworks, scholarly discourse, and interdisciplinary analysis, fostering deep connections between historical events and contemporary social and political issues.
Lesson
Learning Objectives:
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Graduate students will engage with historical artifacts to conduct in-depth, interdisciplinary analyses of African American history and culture.
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Students will critically evaluate primary sources, integrating theoretical frameworks (e.g., critical race theory, cultural studies, historiography) to contextualize the significance of African American contributions.
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Students will develop advanced research skills, producing scholarly analyses that explore how artifacts shape cultural memory, identity, and resistance.
Materials:
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Computers or tablets with internet access to the African American Museum repository website.
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Projector or screen for group viewing (optional).
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Primary source analysis worksheets.
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Scholarly articles, book chapters, and other academic resources for context.
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Laptops or notebooks for research and note-taking.
Standards:
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Advanced Historical Analysis: Critically interpret and evaluate primary sources in relation to theoretical frameworks and secondary scholarly literature.
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Cultural Theory: Apply theoretical frameworks (e.g., critical race theory, postcolonial theory, cultural memory) to the analysis of African American history and culture.
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Scholarly Communication: Develop coherent, well-supported arguments based on primary and secondary sources, demonstrating depth of analysis.
Structure
1. Introduction and Theoretical Framing (15-20 minutes)
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Discussion: Discuss how museums and artifacts influence our understanding of history, identity, and memory. Ask:
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"What is the role of museums in shaping cultural memory and public history?"
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"How do we approach artifacts not just as historical objects but as texts that convey cultural and political meanings?"
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Introduce Theoretical Frameworks: Provide a brief overview of theoretical approaches that will guide the analysis of artifacts:
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Critical Race Theory: How do artifacts reflect systemic inequalities or acts of resistance within African American history?
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Cultural Memory and Public History: How are African American experiences and identities preserved or represented through artifacts?
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Intersectionality: How do race, class, gender, and other identities intersect in the historical context of the artifacts?
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Objective: Explain that students will apply these frameworks to artifacts from the African American Museum repository to deepen their historical and cultural significance analysis.
2. Exploring the African American Museum Repository (15-20 minutes)
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Website Overview: Walk the students through the African American Museum repository website, showing different sections they can explore:
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Civil Rights Movement: Artifacts such as photographs, protest signs, or letters from leaders.
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Cultural Movements: Art from the Harlem Renaissance, music artifacts, and literary manuscripts.
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Slavery and Reconstruction: Historical documents, tools, and personal items related to slavery and emancipation.
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Contemporary Movements: Artifacts from the Black Lives Matter movement and other modern movements.
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Demonstration: Choose one artifact to analyze as a class, demonstrating how to apply the theoretical frameworks. For example, select a photograph from the Civil Rights Movement and:
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Contextualize it historically.
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Use critical race theory to analyze how it reflects systemic racism and resistance.
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Discuss its role in cultural memory, considering how the event it depicts is remembered today.
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3. Group Activity: Artifact Research and Theoretical Application (30-40 minutes)
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Divide into Groups: Organize students into groups of 3-4. Assign each group an artifact from the museum’s repository, or allow them to choose based on their research interests.
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Artifact Research Task:
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Each group will analyze their artifact using the Artifact Analysis Worksheet. They should:
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Description and Context: Provide a detailed description of the artifact and its historical context.
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Theoretical Application: Apply one or more theoretical frameworks (e.g., critical race theory, intersectionality, cultural memory) to interpret the artifact’s significance.
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Cultural and Political Impact: Discuss how the artifact reflects broader themes of African American identity, resistance, or cultural production.
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Contemporary Relevance: Analyze how the artifact’s significance connects to contemporary social issues or debates about race and identity.
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Additional Research: Students should incorporate secondary scholarly sources to support their analysis, drawing from journal articles, book chapters, or relevant historical texts.
4. Group Presentations and Scholarly Dialogue (40 minutes)
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Group Presentations: Each group will present their artifact analysis, focusing on the following:
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Artifact Description: What is the artifact, and what historical moment does it represent?
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Theoretical Analysis: How does the artifact fit within critical race theory, cultural memory, or intersectional analysis?
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Cultural and Political Implications: What does the artifact reveal about African American identity, resistance, or contributions to U.S. history?
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Contemporary Connections: How does the artifact resonate with current social or political movements, such as Black Lives Matter or debates around racial inequality?
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Scholarly Dialogue: After each presentation, facilitate a discussion where other students can offer critical feedback or pose questions that challenge the analysis. Encourage them to draw connections between different artifacts and theoretical perspectives.
5. Reflection and Synthesis (20-25 minutes)
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Class Discussion: Lead a reflective discussion using the following questions:
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"How does analyzing artifacts through theoretical frameworks change our understanding of African American history?"
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"What role do museums play in shaping narratives around race and resistance?"
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"How do artifacts serve as memory tools, preserving and challenging dominant historical narratives?"
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Written Reflection Assignment: Assign students to write a 1-2 page reflection paper (to be submitted next class) addressing how their chosen artifact deepens their understanding of African American history. Encourage them to integrate their theoretical analysis and draw connections between their artifact and contemporary issues of race and identity.
Structure
Assessment:
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Group Participation: Evaluate how effectively students collaborated in analyzing and presenting their artifacts.
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Presentations: Assess the depth of theoretical engagement, the coherence of the argument, and the clarity of the group’s presentation.
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Artifact Analysis Worksheet: Review each group’s analysis for its integration of theoretical frameworks, historical context, and critical insights.
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Reflection Paper: Evaluate the individual reflection papers for their ability to synthesize historical analysis with theoretical perspectives, and for making connections to contemporary social issues.
Extension Activities:
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Research Paper: Assign a longer research paper where students choose an artifact to analyze in-depth, applying multiple theoretical frameworks and incorporating primary and secondary sources.
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Digital Exhibition: Have students design a digital exhibition where they curate a collection of artifacts from the museum, integrating their research and analysis into an online platform or multimedia project.
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Museum Fieldwork: Organize a visit to a local museum or cultural center where students can examine additional artifacts and interview curators about how African American history is presented to the public.