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Academic Year 2002/2003

Race and Power: The Creation and Practice of Democracy in the United States
AFAM 255 FA
Crosslistings:
AMST 257
HIST 255

This course will explore the seemingly paradoxical relationship between democratic ideals and racial inequalities over the course of United States history. Central questions of the course include: What is race, and how has it been invested with different meanings as knowledge itself changes? How has race been the basis for inclusion in and exclusion from rights and privileges? How effectively have constitutional law and judicial structures intervened in patterns of discrimination? When have they supported discrimination? Students will meet once a week for a lecture and once in a seminar discussion section. Wednesday evenings have been reserved for films and visiting speakers.

MAJOR READINGS

Tomas Almaguer, RACIAL FAULT LINES
Renqiu Yu, TO SAVE CHINA, TO SAVE OURSELVES
Ian Haney Lopez, WHITE BY LAW
John Okada, NO-NO BOY
Vijay Prashad, THE KARMA OF BROWN FOLKS
George Lipsitz, THE POSSESSIVE INVESTMENT IN WHITENESS
Gregory Williams, LIFE ON THE COLOR LINE

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Two short papers based on primary documents, a written midterm examination and a research proposal submitted at the end of the course.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Attendance at Wednesday evening sessions is mandatory.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-18-2003

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