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COURSE SYLLABUS FOR ETHNIC AMERICA-100
College of Social Science and Interdisciplinary Studies
Prof. Boatamo Mosupyoe
Semester: Fall 2006
Office: 462D Amador Hall
Class Time:TR 10:30-11:45
Phone: (916) 278 4376
Email: mosupyob@csus.edu
Office Hours: TR 12:00pm – 1:25 pm
Room: SQ 303
Course Description:
Through an interdisciplinary approach, this course introduces the four major American
ethnic groups-American Indian, African American, Asian American and
Chicano/Mexican Americans. We will focus on themes common to all four groups
(racism, economic and political oppression) and demonstrate the varied contributions of
each culture to American social and economic life.
Prerequisite: Passing score on the WPE. 3 units. Partially fulfils Area D-General
Education Requirements for Area D2. Major Social Issues of the Contemporary Era)
Course Objectives:
*Students will develop an understanding of the concepts and issues of race, class,
ethnicity, gender, institutional racism, internalized racism, etc.
*Students will develop an understanding of their own culture and that of the others
*Students will develop an understanding of the contribution of human society of various
ethnic groups, religious groups, and women.
*Students will develop writing skills to the level where they can express their
comprehension of the subject matter, in a clear, organized and intelligent way.
Required Texts:
Vega, E. and Mayeda.: Ethnic America: Readings in Race, Class and Gender
Richard T Schaefer: Race and Ethnicity in the United States
Class Requirements:
Grading System:
Writing Assignments: 50%
Midterm Examination: 15%
Class Participation: 10%
Final Examination: 25%
95-100 =A; 90-94 = A-; 86-89 = B+; 83-85 = B; 80-82 = B-; 76-79 =C+; 73-75 = C;
70-72 = C; 66-69 = D+; 63-65 = D; 60-62= D; 59-0 = F.
Writing Assignments: 50%
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This course requires three writing assignments. The first two papers must be 5 pages
in length, excluding the bibliography. The third paper must be ten pages long excluding
the bibliography. Each student will choose three topics to be researched and written.
The topic to be researched must fall within the purview of the course syllabus and must
be submitted to me for approval.
The papers must be typed, doubled spaced, with standard fonts and margins,
footnotes/or endnotes and bibliography. The fonts should not be larger than 12 points
and margins should not be wider than 1 inch. You should cite all your sources. Papers
without proper citations and bibliography will not be graded. Papers will be graded on
their content, analysis, coherence, proper citations, and clarity of expression. The
format for source citation must follow academic standard format. Late papers will be
graded down 5 pts for each day it is late.
Plagiarism: Do not plagiarize. Your written work should be your own. Plagiarizing
might ultimately result in your expulsion from CSUC
(www.csus.edu/admbus/umanual/UMP14150.htm).
Add/Drop Policy:
The Add/Drop Policy complies with the University requirements which you can find on
this website http://www.csus.edu/indiv/l/lundp/drop.htm
Midterm Examination: 15%
This will be essay type and take home. It will cover all the topics that we would have
discussed at the time.
Final Examination: 25%
This will be cumulative.
Attendance and Class Participation: 10%
You are expected to complete assigned readings before each class. You will
demonstrate that you have done the readings by participating in the class discussions.
Weekly Course Outline:
Week One
Introductions
Understanding basic concepts and definitions: race/class/gender; ethnic group, racial
group, minority/majority; institutional racism; feminization of poverty; social construction
of race versus biological construction, resistance and change.
Readings:
a)
Schaeffer, pages xi-39
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b)
c)
Vega et al-i) Kimenyi 15
Video: The Color of Fear
Week Two:
Prejudice
Readings:
a)
Schaeffer pages 40-79
b)
Vega et al.- pages 4-114
c)
Videos: In the White Man’s Image, More than Bows, and Arrow and
The River People
Week Three:
Discrimination
Readings:
a)
Schaeffer pages 80-111
b)
Videos: The Buffalo Bus Conflict
c)
The Color of Fear
I reserve the right to show other appropriate videos as I learn of them
Week Four:
Resistance, Discontent, Immigration
Readings:
a)
Schaeffer pages 112-140
b)
Vega et al 290-360
c)
Videos on discrimination and immigration resistance
Week Five:
Native Americans
Readings:
a)
Vega et al-pages 119-152
b)
Videos: Great Native American Leaders and Nations
Topics
The Doctrine of Discovery
The Marshall Trilogy
Removal and Relocation
Political and Economic Status of Native Americans
Native Americans and the United States
Paper One Due: Thursday of Week Five
Week Six
Native Americans (continued)
a) Vega et al pages 119-152
b) Videos: Great Native American Leaders and Nations
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Topics:
Religious Freedom
Sacred Sites
Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation
Issues of Hawaiian Sovereignty
Week Seven
African Americans
Readings:
a)
b)
Vega, et.al: pages153-179, and 312-333
Videos, Black is Black Ain’t, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and the Road to
Brown
c)
Tim Wise’s Articles: “Honky Wanna Cracker,” “Con-fusion Ethics,” “Honky Wanna
Cracker?” “When Anti-Racism Strikes Out,” “Overclass Blues, and Failing the test of
Fairness,” “Con-fusion Ethics,” “Honky Wanna Cracker?” “When Anti-Racism Strikes
Out,” “Overclass Blues, and Failing
The test of Fairness,” “Not so Little White Lies,” “Coloring Crime,” “Ghettos are not a
Game Part I-111,”
Topics:
Slavery and its Impact
Jim Crow and Segregation
Contemporary African American Issues
Midterm: Take Home
Week Eight
African Americans (continued)
Topics:
Civil Rights and African American Activism, Two Views of Slavery
Brown versus Board of Education
Malcolm X
Comparison of Civil Rights Movement and the Apartheid System
Week Nine
Asian Americans
Readings:
a) Vega et al pages 242-285
b) Videos: Various
Topics:
A historical overview of Asian Americans
Immigration and Labor
Picture Bride Invasion
The Chinese Exclusion Act
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Exclusion and Segregation
Contributions
Week Ten
Asian Americans
Readings:
Asian American (continued)
Topics:
Intergenerational Differences
The Model Minority Stereotype
Issei Issues
Second Paper Due: 11/11
Week Eleven
Chicano/Mexican/Hispanic/Latino/a Americans
Readings:
a) Vega et.al. pages 194-241
b) Video: Various
Topics:
Historical Overview
Immigration and Restriction
Labor Force
Resistance and Chicano Movement
Legacies of Conquest
Contributions
Week Twelve
Chicano/Mexican/Hispanic/Latino/a Americans (continued)
Topics:
Contemporary Issues
Chicano/Mexican/Hispanic/Latino/a Americans
Readings:
Week Thirteen
Chicano/Mexican/Hispanic/Latino/a Americans (continued)
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Topics:
Contemporary Issues
Last Paper Due: Thursday of Week 13
Week Fourteen and Fifteen
The Intersection of race, class and gender among all the groups, reviews and
final
Lecture
Videos: various