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Academic Year 2005/2006

Racial Inequality and Social Policy
AFAM 309 SP

In this seminar we will examine the relationship between racial inequality and social policy in the United States. At a basic level, we can think of racial inequality existing between whites and "non-whites." At the same time, when looking at inequality we can note that problems of "race" intersect with problems of class and gender. In this course we will focus primarily, but not exclusively, on the experience of African Americans. We will also consider the experiences of other racial minority groups. With respect to racial inequality, we will give particular attention to problems of employment opportunity, housing and neighborhood, education, political representation, crime, and poverty and welfare. The development of social policies designed to "solve" such problems are shaped by scholarly, political, and policy debates that are derived from various (and conflicting) informed perspectives. Policy ideas emerge from government, from institutes and non-profit organizations, scholars, and activists. There are probably no domestic policy debates in the U.S. that are more volatile than those related to "racial inequality." Ironically, patters of racial inequality have often been exacerbated by the very policies designed to ameliorate those inequalities.

MAJOR READINGS

Roth, William, THE ASSAULT ON SOCIAL POLICY, New York: Columbia University Press, 2002
Quadagno, Jill, THE COLOR OF WELFARE: HOW RACISM UNDERMINED THE WAR ON POVERTY, New York: Oxford, 1994
Hamilton, Dona Cooper and Hamilton, Charles V., THE DUAL AGENDA: THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL AND ECONOMIC EQUALITY, New York: Columbia University Press, 1997
Lashley, Marilyn E., and Jackson, Melanie Njeri, eds., AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE NEW POLICY CONSENSUS, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments will include short critical readings, papers and a major term paper.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Brown,Eric    
Times: .M..... 01:10PM-04:00PM;     Location: DWNY208;
Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 15)
SR. major: 5   Jr. major: 5
SR. non-major: 2   Jr. non-major: 2   SO: 1   FR: 0

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

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006

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