American Studies Presentation Outline: Push

American Studies Presentation Outline: Push

Introduction

Discussion of what constitutes African American Identity and the concept of Double Consciousness as proposed by W.E.B Dubois and discussed in a study from Howard University.

Main

How does the novel Push reflect the problems described in the study?

How do the physical settings and political background of Push help to explain why these problems exist?

How is African American Identity made more complex because of how it differs from a pure African Identity. How does Push help reveal these complexities?

Conclusion

Revisit the issues discussed and summarize.

How effectively does Push reveal the complexities of African American Identity?

Questions

What do you believe constitutes African American Identity? Do you agree with the definition provided by the idea of Double Consciousness?

How does African American identity differ from other racial identities such as Hispanic-Americans, Italian-Americans etc? What makes African American identity unique?

It has been suggested that African American identity is complex in nature due to the divide between its communal characteristics and its individual ones. However, what of the role of slavery in forming the African American identity of today? To what extent did the experience of African Americans since arriving in the American colonies contribute to forming a unique and complex identity?

Sources
http://urpasheville.org/proceedings/ncur2011/papers/NP50231.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/14/books/books-of-the-times-a-cruel-world-endless-until-a-teacher-steps-in.html