MCC-SJFC 2013 ACADEMIC
CULTURAL EXCHANGE
The Spring 2013 semester
presents an innovative and collaborative opportunity in the African American
Literature courses taught at Monroe Community College by Professor Tokeya C.
Graham and at St. John Fisher College by Dr. Arlette Miller Smith. The focal
theme for the pilot project is E-RACEING the BLACK BODY: THE LITERATURE OF THE
BLACK EXPERIENCE. Together the
respective professors have created a curriculum that explores the works of four
African American authors: Toni Morrison (MCC: Beloved; SJFC: Sula);
Richard Wright (MCC: Native Son;
SJFC: Black Boy); Bebe Moore Campbell
(excerpts from Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine--MCC/SJFC);
and Lynn Nottage (Crumbs from the Table
of Joy--MCC/SJFC).
Students will visit the Race: Are We So Different? Exhibit
at the Rochester Museum and Science Center and respond to various course-
related themes via a public blog. Additional collaboration will be fostered by
student interaction (electronically and face- to- face); a professor guest
lecture exchange; public presentations by
students and course faculty; and an MCC lecture on Morrison’s Beloved by SJFC AFAM minor, Shawna Hicks who will serve
as the student scholar in-residence for the project. The idea
for the collaboration was envisioned by Dr. Arlette Miller Smith after being
asked to serve as the 2013 Scholars’ Day speaker for the MCC Damon City Campus.
Prof Tokeya C. Graham and Dr. Miller Smith then created the pilot for the two
African American literature courses.
Contact Information:
Dr. Arlette Miller Smith (SJFC):
asmith@sjfc.edu/ 585.385.8212
Art courtesy of Google Images: "The Library" by Jacob Lawrence
