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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Department of Afro-American Studies 1903
[pencil insert] Spring Semester, 1984
412 541 Blacks and the United States Constitution
[pencil insert] Vel Phillips JD, Adjunct Professor
Wednesday's 6:30, - 9:30 p.m.
Mitchell Hall, Room 112

DESCRIPTION
This course deals with the U.S. Constitution and the protections which
it gives to Afro-Americans and thus, necessarily, those protections
which the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee. The Declaration of
Independence the U.S. Constitution, as it was adopted by the Constitutional
Convention and ratified by the original thirteen colonies,
the Bill of Rights and some of the Federalists papers will be the
basic documents at the commencement of the course. Court interpretations,
subsequent amendments to the Constitution and legislation
which impact of the basic Constitution are the core of this course.

OBJECTIVESS
The course's goals are to enable students:

I, to become familiar with that area of law which is called Constitutional law;
II. to assess the interpretations which have been made by the U.S.
Supreme Court of the Constitution from legislated slavery times
to the present;
III. to develop a critical analysis of the dynamics of certain
constitutional issues decided by the U.S, Supreme Court;
IV, to identify and evaluate the role of
groups, political parties, and other interest groups which impact
constitutional issues decided by the U.S. Court;
V. to recognize and distinguish between ephemeral constitutional
issues and those of more permanent substances;
VI to distinguish between isolated cases and trends.

REQUIREMENT
A. Regular class attendance
B. Participation in class discussion based on lectures, materials
covered in class and outside readings,
C. Required text: Derrick Bell, RACE, RACISM AND AMERICAN LAW
Second Edition (BELL);
Declaration of Independence, as adopted plus its original draft;
State of Wisconsin Constitution;
Outside readings on constitutional issues which affects blacks
significantly found in periodicals and law journals
D. a mid-term examination is given
E. a term paper
F. a final examination.

OFFICE HOURS
[penciled text] I will be available every Wednesday evening after class and
also by appointment. Students are encourage to discuss
any questions they may have concerning the material