AP African American Studies Reading and Writing Workshop

Reading and Writing Workshop
Topic: Origins of African American Culture
Objective
​Students will analyze primary and secondary public domain sources to understand the origins of African American culture, including language, religion, music, and social structures. They will respond to SAQs and engage in a DBQ exercise to synthesize their learning.
Materials

• Excerpts from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845)
• Excerpts from Up from Slavery by Booker T Washington (1901)
• Selections from The Souls of Black Folk by W E B Du Bois (1903)
• African American spirituals and folk songs (public domain)
• Excerpts from Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States (1930s WPA Collection)

Part I: Reading and Analysis
Students will read selections and discuss the following key themes:

1. African Retentions – How African cultural practices, traditions, and languages persisted and transformed in America
2. Religion and Spirituality – The blending of African religious traditions with Christianity
3. Oral Traditions and Music – The role of spirituals, folktales, and storytelling in preserving history and culture
4. Community and Resistance – How enslaved and free African Americans built networks of resistance and cultural resilience

SAQs (Short Answer Questions)
Answer in complete sentences, using evidence from the readings.

1. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, how does Douglass describe the role of songs sung by enslaved people What do these songs reveal about their emotions and lived experiences
2. Based on The Souls of Black Folk, how does Du Bois define the concept of double consciousness How does this relate to the preservation of African American cultural identity
3. What evidence from Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States supports the idea that African traditions influenced the daily lives of enslaved people in America Provide at least one example
4. How does Booker T Washington in Up from Slavery discuss the importance of education and self-reliance in shaping African American culture and identity

Part II: Document-Based Question (DBQ) Exercise
​Prompt:
Using the provided documents and your knowledge of history, analyze how African American culture developed in response to both African traditions and the conditions of enslavement in the Americas.
Documents:

1. Excerpts from Slave Narratives – Personal testimonies about traditions, spirituals, and community life
2. Lyrics from African American Spirituals – Examples such as Swing Low Sweet Chariot and Wade in the Water
3. Excerpts from The Souls of Black Folk – Analysis of cultural identity and resistance
4. WPA Interviews – Accounts of oral traditions and folklore among formerly enslaved people

Task:

• Thesis Statement: Develop a clear argument answering the DBQ prompt
• Document Analysis: Use at least three documents to support your response
• Outside Knowledge: Incorporate historical context beyond the provided documents
• Conclusion: Summarize key points and explain why African American culture remains a vital force in American history

Closing Discussion and Reflection

• How did African American culture develop as both a form of resistance and survival
• What aspects of African culture remain visible in modern African American communities
• How do historical narratives shape our understanding of cultural identity today

This workshop provides a structured way to explore African American cultural origins through critical reading and writing while reinforcing key AP skills.