[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2004/2005


Introduction to Ethnic Studies
AMST 217 SP

Crosslistings:
ANTH 217
AFAM 217

This course is an introduction to Ethnic Studies that will survey selected historical monuments, geographical and institutional sites, cases and periods in order to explore complexities of life in the United States. Turning to the entangled histories of colonialism, slavery, imperialism, racism, disenfranchisement, and labor, we will examine how different peoples become "American". We will focus on the racialization of American Indians, African Americans, Pacific Islanders, Chicanos and Latinos, and Asian Americans with regard to contested, and often contradictory, notions of identity and citizenship across multiple categories of difference including gender, class, ethnicity, and sexuality. With special attention to US congressional plenary power, the US Supreme Court, and questions of agency and resistance, we will come to better understand how differently situated people(s) negotiate state-structured systems of exclusion and assimilation in relation to formations and practices of culture, community, sovereignty, democracy, equality, and self-determination.

MAJOR READINGS

THE HOUSE THAT RACE BUILT, Ed. Wahneema Lubiano
RACE, RIGHTS AND THE ASIAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Angelo Ancheta
RACIAL FORMATION IN THE UNITED STATES, Howard Winant and Michael Omi
A DIFFERENT MIRROR: A HISTORY OF MULTICULTURAL AMERICA, Ronald Takaki
AMERICAN INDIAN SOVEREIGNTY AND THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT: THE MASKING OF JUSTICE, David E. Wilkins
LATINO CULTURAL CITIZENSHIP: CLAIMING IDENTITY, SPACE, AND RIGHTS, Eds. William V. Flores and Rina Benmayer
THIS BRIDGE CALLED MY BAC K, WRITINGS BY RADICAL WOMEN OF COLOR, Eds. Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua

Films and Videos:
BLACK IS, BLACK AIN'T
SIEMPRE, PALANTE, SIEMPRE
SAVAGE ACTS
ACT OF WAR: THE OVERTHROW OF THE HAWAIIAN NATION

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Students are required to complete all course books and articles, in-class and homework assignments, and response papers that address the weekly readings. There will be an in-class mid-term exam and a take home final exam. Besides the occasional in-class assignments, students are required to submit two reading response papers (5-7 pages each). Class evaluation will be based on class attendance, assignments and participation (50%), a mid-term exam (20%), and the final exam (30%).

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Kauanui,J. Kehaulani    
Times: ..T.R.. 02:40PM-04:00PM;     Location: FISK413;
Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 40)
SR. major: 3   Jr. major: 2
SR. non-major: 0   Jr. non-major: 0   SO: 30   FR: 5

Special Attributes:
Curricular Renewal:    Ethical Reasoning, Writing
Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005


Contact wesmaps@wesleyan.edu to submit comments or suggestions. Please include a url, course title, faculty name or other page reference in your email

Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459