Tomorrow’s class has two sections:

• Human Origins, Human Societies
• Africa Past & Present: Confronting Stereotypes

If you’re looking for more information on human origins than we can cover in one class period, the Smithsonian website has fantastic resources. Locally, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is currently hosting a traveling exhibition on Lucy, an Australopithecus afarensus fossil. The associated website, Becoming Human, is another rich resource. The exhibition will be in Orange County through April 28. I encourage you to visit.

The second part of class will be a discussion of Paul Lane’s exhibition review, “Breaking the Mould.” In addition to the study questions posted in the course outline, consider the following:

• What are the venues in which we encounter information about Africa?
• How do stereotypes shape public perceptions and understanding of cultures other than our own?

Throughout the quarter we will regularly have conversation about “Africa Past & Present”, connecting our study of early African history to contemporary events and issues.