Anti-Racism and Decolonization, Intersession 2015
COM 291.01 Topics in Communication Arts: Anti-Racism and Decolonization
Intersession 2015, Monday to Friday 1:30 to 3:30 pm, Burnett 003
Instructors: Devan Carrington; Anthony Fleury; Ketwana Schoos
DESCRIPTION
Learn about communication practices and social structures that keep certain groups in positions of
power and other groups in subordinate positions. We pay special attention to the oppression of Native
Americans and African Americans in the United States, with the goal of enabling participants to
recognize, question, and resist oppression.
This instance of COM 291 may be counted toward the Communication Arts major or minor; counts
toward the Conflict and Resolution Studies concentration; and carries Oral Communication (C) and
Cultural Diversity (D) designations in the general curriculum.
RESOURCES
Required Books (on reserve at W&J Library)
hooks, Writing Beyond Race: Living Theory and Practice
Markus and Moya, Doing Race: 21 Essays for the 21st Century
Required Films (on reserve at W&J Library)
American Outrage (60 min)
Blacking Up: Hip-Hop's Remix of Race and Identity (60 min)
Crash (110 min)
Dances With Wolves (180 min)
Do the Right Thing (120 min)
Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes (60 min)
The House I Live In (110 min)
In Whose Honor? (50 min)
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Develop skills in oral communication, intercultural knowledge, and teamwork by engaging in activities
and workshops about diversity issues.
Develop skills in reading, critical thinking, and oral communication by delivering a presentation with a
partner about one of the course readings.
Develop skills in reading, critical thinking, intercultural knowledge, and inquiry and analysis by
exploring and discussing articles and essays on racism and settler colonialism.
Develop skills in ethical reasoning, intercultural knowledge, and problem solving by exploring
strategies for questioning and resisting symbolic practices that facilitate racism and colonialism.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION ARTS MISSION STATEMENT
2
The mission of the Department of Communication Arts is to graduate citizens determined to build
productive lives and vibrant communities through skilled communication, artful performance, and
purposeful collaboration. Practice in the ancient disciplines of rhetoric and theatre, as well as the recent
arts of radio and cinema, can develop habits of perception and expression that guide one toward the
rewards of human communication.
GRADING (criteria posted in Sakai)
40%
30%
20%
10%
Participation (includes discussions based on readings and films, and in-class activities)
Individual Project
Presentation
Pecha Kucha
Participation: After selected class meetings featuring discussion, and after selected written discussions
conducted on Sakai (if any), each student receives a score for that session, based on criteria listed
below. Your end-of-term class participation grade will be determined based on the average of these
scores.
7 You are well prepared for class and it shows. You make numerous attempts to contribute. You ask
questions directly of other participants beyond answering instructor questions. Your contributions
demonstrate careful, complex reflection on the materials and topics for study. You actively listen and
encourage others in their participation through positive nonverbal feedback.
6 You show evidence of being prepared. You make several attempts to contribute comments or
questions. You actively listen and encourage others in their participation through positive nonverbal
feedback.
5 You show some evidence of preparation. You participate when called upon. You appear to actively
listen and are supportive of other participants in the discussion.
4 or 3 You show little evidence of preparation. You are unable to respond to questions or do so with
difficulty. You do not appear to be an active listener. You do not appear to support other participants
through positive nonverbal behaviors.
2 to 0 You do not appear to actively listen. Your verbal and/or nonverbal feedback to others is blank,
aggressive, or disrespectful.
0 You are absent.
POLICIES
Verifiable disabilities that affect course performance will be accommodated—let me know as soon as
possible. Follow all Washington & Jefferson College Regulations in the College Catalog, including
those regarding Class Attendance, Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct, and Incomplete Grades and
Grade Changes. Plagiarism or cheating will result in no grade for an assignment and may be grounds
for failing the course. Rude or inappropriately behaving students will be dismissed from the
room. Turn off electronic devices unless instructed otherwise. Do not wear a cap or hat with a bill
covering your eyes during class sessions. Do not wear sunglasses (exceptions made with medical
3
documentation). Wear appropriate attire. Excessive absenteeism and/or repeated tardiness may be
grounds for failing the course.
SCHEDULE
Optional
screenings
M
5 Jan
Tu
6 Jan
American
Outrage (11 am)
W
7 Jan
Dances With
Wolves (9 am)
Th
8 Jan
Listen: Kauanui
interviews Wolfe
(11 am)
F
9 Jan
In Whose Honor?
(11 am)
M
12 Jan
Do The Right
Thing (10 am)
Tu
13 Jan
Class meeting 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm (complete readings, films,
and assignments before class session)
Preview: Pecha Kucha, Individual Project, Presentation.
IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES: Childhood Messages, Diversity Bingo,
Perceptions.
READ: McIntosh, “Unpacking the Invisible Backpack” (PDF in
Sakai). Death By PowerPoint; The End of PowerPoint as We
Know It; Pecha Kucha: Get to the PowerPoint in 20 Slides then Sit
the Hell Down.
EXPLORE: Pecha Kucha website.
IN-CLASS ACTIVITY: Circles of My Multicultural Self.
VIEW: Dances With Wolves; American Outrage.
READ: Huhndorf, “If Only I Were an Indian” (PDF in Sakai);
McDermott (in Markus and Moya), “Ways of Being White:
Privilege, Perceived Stigma, and Transcendence.”
PROPOSAL for Individual Project due.
LISTEN: Kauanui interviews Wolfe (MP3 in Sakai).
SKIM: Wolfe, “Settler Colonialism and the Elimination of the
Native” (PDF in Sakai).
IN-CLASS ACTIVITY: Lemonheads and Whoppers.
PECHA KUCHAS: Siddhanta, Nicholas, Alexis, Joseline, Devon,
Ty, Declan
VIEW: In Whose Honor?
READ: Fryberg and Watts (in Markus and Moya), “We’re
Honoring You Dude: Myths, Mascots, and American Indians.”
EXPLORE: changethemascot.org
PECHA KUCHAS: Haley, Katrina, India, Dontae, Jack, Zachary,
Danielle, Passion
VIEW: Do The Right Thing.
READ: hooks, “Introduction;” “Racism: Naming What Hurts;”
“Moving Past Blame: Embracing Diversity”
DO: Individual research relevant to Monday’s discussion of Do
the Right Thing.
SKIM (in Markus and Moya): Camarillo, “Going Back to
Compton: Real Estate, Racial Politics, and Black-Brown
Relations;” Eberhardt, “Enduring Racial Associations: African
Americans, Crime and Animal Imagery.”
STUDENT PRESENTATION on “Going Back to Compton:
Real Estate, Racial Politics, and Black-Brown Relations;”
Presenters: _____________________
STUDENT PRESENTATION on “Enduring Racial
Associations: African Americans, Crime and Animal Imagery;”
4
W
14 Jan
Hip Hop: Beyond
Beats and
Rhymes (11 am)
Th
15 Jan
Crash (10 am)
F
16 Jan
M
19 Jan
Tu
20 Jan
W
21 Jan
Th
22 Jan
F
23 Jan
Presenters: _____________________
VIEW: Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes.
READ: hooks, “Solidarity: Women and Race Relations;”
SKIM (in Markus and Moya): Moya “Another Way to Be:
Women of Color, Literature, and Myth.”
STUDENT PRESENTATION on “Another Way to Be: Women
of Color, Literature, and Myth;” Presenters: __________________
VIEW: Crash.
READ: hooks, “Talking Trash: A Dialogue About Crash;” Crash
Discussion Questions (PDF in Sakai).
SKIM (in Markus and Moya): Frederickson, “Models of American
Ethnic Relations: Hierarchy, Assimilation and Pluralism;” Steele,
“In the Air Between Us: Stereotypes, Identity, and Achievement.”
IN-CLASS ACTIVITY: How Comfortable Am I?
STUDENT PRESENTATION on “Models of American Ethnic
Relations: Hierarchy, Assimilation and Pluralism;”
Presenters: ____________________
STUDENT PRESENTATION on “In the Air Between Us:
Stereotypes, Identity, and Achievement;” Presenters: ___________
READ: Elam (in Markus and Moya), “The ‘Ethno-Ambiguo
Hostility Syndrome’: Mixed-Race, Identity and Popular Culture”
IN-CLASS ACTIVITY: Crossing the Line
Service activity
Meet in The Commons Media Room, MLK day dinner, time TBD
The House I Live
In (10 am)
VIEW: The House I Live In.
SKIM (in Markus and Moya): Bobo and Thompson, “Racialized
Mass Incarceration: Poverty, Prejudice, and Punishment.”
STUDENT PRESENTATION on “Racialized Mass
Incarceration: Poverty, Prejudice, and Punishment;”
Presenters (3): __________________
Meet in the Rossin Campus Center Ballroom
IN-CLASS ACTIVITY: The American Dream.
VIEW: Blacking Up: Hip-Hop's Remix of Race and Identity.
SKIM (in Markus and Moya): Morgan and Fischer, “Hip-hop and
Race: Blackness, Language, and Creativity.”
STUDENT PRESENTATION on “Hip-hop and Race: Blackness,
Language, and Creativity;” Presenters: _____________________
Meet in the Faculty Dining Room, Lunch
Informal sharing of Individual Projects.
Blacking Up:
Hip-Hop's Remix
of Race and
Identity (11 am)