Workshop 1: Finding Resources Sample Outline

A. Stereotyping in black film and television

A - QUESTION

a.) Does the media portray African-Americans fairly? (why or why not?)
b.) What are some actual stereotypes that have been associated with African-Americans and how can they be contested?

A - FIND RESOURCES

Where do I find them in African-American World Web site?

• Refer to the African American World Web site (www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld)
• What is this cover page called? (Review function of home page)
• On the left side of the screen, navigate through the CHANNELS: History, Arts & Culture, Race & Society, Profiles
• Open up the Race & Society section
• Look over the page. What links on this page might lead us to information on our topic of stereotypes?
• Go to the Sound Off! section (www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/society/index.html) and click on start a discussion to read other web surfers’ candid views.
• Go to the Spotlight section and click on Join the Debate. Locate the link that takes you to Price & Woodson’s answers to media stereotypes debate question. (The link Media Stereotypes)(www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/society/debate7.html). Read the positions held by Price & Woodson.
• Check out the modern times section of the African-American World timeline at www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/timeline/modern_02.html to investigate the biographies of Bill Cosby, Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey and/or others in the film and television industry.
  Find out which films you can rent on this topic and read the film synopses at
• www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/reference/books.html

How do I know the information is valid? Who is responsible for the information?

• Refer to the CREDITS link at the bottom of the page (www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/society/debate7.html). Discuss the content contributors to the Web site.

What other info is there on other Web sites?

• See the interview posted at www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/race_relations/race_matters_1-15.html
• Locate text www.africana.com/research/encarta/tt_285.asp for description of racial stereotypes.
• Students locate other sites for information

A - QUESTION

c) What was a minstrel show and how do these shows relate to today’s black films and television?

A - FIND RESOURCES

Where do I find them in African-American World Web site?

• Refer to the African American World Web site (www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld)
• What is this cover page called? (Review function of home page)
• On the left side of the screen, navigate through the CHANNELS: History, Arts & Culture, Race & Society, Profiles
• Click on the REFERENCE ROOM section of the site (located in the horizontal bar at top of page.
• The REFERENCE ROOM provides four sections of information:
  1) Best of NPR
  2) Best of PBS
  3) Articles A-Z
  4) Books & Film
• We are looking for a definition of “minstrel show”, so how do we find it?
• One way is to click on Articles A-Z link and scroll down to Minstrel Show
• Are there other topics from this list that you are interested in looking into?
• Another way is to type “minstrel show” in SEARCH box at top of page
• Read article www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/reference/articles/minstrel_show.html

How do I know the information is valid? Who is responsible for the information?

• Refer to the CREDITS link at the bottom of the page
• Type “bamboozled” into the SEARCH box on the African AmericanWorld homepage and see where you can go to read or listen to dialogue about Spike Lee’s controversial 2000 film

What other info is there on other Web sites?

• Read about visual artist Michael Ray Charles at www.pbs.org/art21/artists/charles
• Type “bamboozled” into the SEARCH box of www.africana.com. You will be provided with a list of articles on “Bamboozled”. Link to the article by Lee Hubbard, and read the interview with Spike Lee on minstrel shows.
• Students locate other sites for information

B. From gospel to hip hop – threads in African-American music

B - QUESTION

a.) What did Rosetta Tharpe do and how was her role significant to the gospel music movement?
b.) Is crossover gospel music acceptable?

B - FIND RESOURCES

Where do I find them in African-American World Web site?

• Refer to the African American World Web site (www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld)
• What is this cover page called? (Review function of home page)
• On the left side of the screen, navigate through the CHANNELS: History, Arts & Culture, Race & Society, Profiles
• Open up the Arts & Culture section
• Look over the page. What links on this page might lead us to information on our topic of gospel music (2 min)?
• Go to the REFERENCE ROOM (link at top of page)
• Click on ARTICLES A-Z
• Under TOPICS & EVENTS, click on “G” for GOSPEL MUSIC
• Open the link to GOSPEL MUSIC http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/reference/articles/gospel_music.html

How do I know the information is valid? Who is responsible for the information?

• Refer to the credits at the top of the page: Article provided by Encyclopedia Britannica. Link to the Encyclopedia Britannica site.

What other info is there on other Web sites?

• (1) Read the page www.pbs.org/americanrootsmusic/pbs_arm_saa_sisterrosettatharpe.html
• (1) Go to www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/feature10/html/body_meet5.html
• (1) View and analyze what is written here: www.pbs.org/theblues/songsartists/songsbioalpha.html#stharpe
• (1) Read the lesson plan posted at the following location:
  www.pbs.org/theblues/classroom/intmenwomen.html
• (2) See Kirk Franklin’s biography www.pbs.org/americanrootsmusic/pbs_arm_saa_kirkfranklin.html. What television series was this biography drafted for?
• (2) Read about Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, and Cissy Houston at www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/feature10/html/body_meet3.html

B - QUESTIONS

c.) Why are many contemporary music styles considered fruits of the blues or descendents of jazz?

B - FIND RESOURCES

Where do I find them in African-American World Web site?

• Refer to the African American World Web site (www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld)
• What is this cover page called? (Review function of home page)
• On the left side of the screen, navigate through the CHANNELS: History, Arts & Culture, Race & Society, Profiles
• Open up the Arts & Culture section
• Look over the page. What links on this page might lead us to information on our topic of the blues and jazz (2 min)?
• Go to the REFERENCE ROOM (link at top of page)
• Click on ARTICLES A-Z
• Under TOPICS & EVENTS, click on “B” for BLUES
• Open the link to BLUES http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/reference/articles/blues.html
• Under TOPICS & EVENTS, click on “J” for JAZZ
• Open the link to JAZZ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/reference/articles/jazz.html

How do I know the information is valid? Who is responsible for the information?

• Refer to the credits at the top of the page: Article provided by Encyclopedia Britannica. Link to the Encyclopedia Britannica site.

What other info is there on other Web sites?

• Take a “blues road trip” by clicking on the interactive map found here: www.pbs.org/theblues/roadtrip.html
• Learn more about blues songs and artists on this page: www.pbs.org/theblues/songsartists/songsartists.html
• Read about a film series devoted to the blues here: www.pbs.org/theblues/aboutfilms/aboutfilms.html

B - QUESTIONS

d.) How and why might hip hop be used to teach African-American history to today’s and tomorrow’s youth?

B - FIND RESOURCES

Where do I find them in African-American World Web site?

• Refer to the African American World Web site (www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld)
• What is this cover page called? (Review function of home page
• On the left side of the screen, navigate through the CHANNELS: History, Arts & Culture, Race & Society, Profiles
• Open up the Arts & Culture section
• Look over the page. What links on this page might lead us to information on our topic of hip hop?
• Do a search of hip hop in the search tool.
• Link to the first article under PBS Search Results: Online Newshour: Hip Hop Phenomenon. See interviews on the hip hop phenomenon:
  www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/jan-june99/hiphop_2-24.html
• See a description of hip hop on http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june00/poetryboxfreestyling.html

How do I know the information is valid? Who is responsible for the information?

• African American World and Online Newshour are produced by PBS stations. On the PBS Web site, see About PBS for more information: http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/

What other info is there on other Web sites?

• The Director of the tv series The Blues talks about the connection between the blues and hip hop: http://www.pbs.org/theblues/aboutfilms/levininterview.html
• Uncover opinions on hip hop fashion by reviewing this site: www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/youth/jan-june00/hiphop_1-24.html

C. The historically black college or university (HBCU) experience – past to present

C - QUESTIONS

1.) How, when, and under what conditions were Fisk, Howard, Morehouse, Spelman, and Tuskegee founded?
2.) What happened at Morris Brown College in 2003?
3.) Where can high school students go to learn much about their HBCU choices online?
4.) What have experts said about the HBCU experience in general or the HBCU versus predominantly white college experience?

C - FIND RESOURCES

Where do I find them in African-American World Web site?

• Refer to the African American World Web site (www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld)
• What is this cover page called?
• On the left side of the screen, navigate through the CHANNELS: History, Arts & Culture, Race & Society, Profiles
• Open up the Arts & Culture section
• Look over the page. What links on this page might lead us to information on our topic of the blues and jazz?
• Go to the REFERENCE ROOM (link at top of page)
• Click on ARTICLES A-Z
• Under TOPICS & EVENTS, click on one of the five HBCUs listed on this page:
  www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/reference/articles.html
• Find out where Spike Lee, W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Marion Wright Edelman were educated as undergraduates by visiting the African-American World REFERENCE ROOM: www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/reference/articles.html

How do I know the information is valid? Who is responsible for the information?

• African American World is produced by PBS. On the PBS Web site, see About PBS for more information: http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/

What other info is there on other Web sites?

• (3) See “From Swastika to Jim Crow” articles to learn some HBCU history:
  www.pbs.org/itvs/fromswastikatojimcrow/blackcolleges.html
• (3) Click on “Famous Graduates” on this page to see what HBCU alumnae have achieved: www.pbs.org/itvs/fromswastikatojimcrow/blackcolleges.html
• (3) Go to the following page: www.pbs.org/shattering/resources1.html
• (4) Read the words of Bennett College President Johnetta Cole at: www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/terrorism/july-dec02/cole_9-16.html