DEPARTMENT OF AMERICAN STUDIES
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
RACE MATTERS
Prof. Ben. Sifuentes Jáuregui
Ruth Adams Bldg. 108-C/205-C
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Tel. 732-932-5776
bjauregui@amst.rutgers.edu
http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~jauregui
DC RAB-XXX
MW5 2:50 – 4:10
Objectives:
This course seeks to explore how “race” is represented and narrated as a political, cultural
and critical category. Students will explore a series of sociological, literary, and visual
works to understand how “race” is deployed or obviated in contemporary American
culture. Particular attention will be given to discussions on racial formations, race as
social construction, race as “natural,” and as a “performance.” Other topics of inquiry and
debate include self-hatred, racisms, whiteness, Orientalism; race, gender and queer
intersectionality; and color.
Learning Goals:
Students will be able to understand and articulate issues of race and racialization as an
interdisciplinary dialogue.
• Analyze American arts and/or literatures in relation to multiple American histories,
values, languages, cultures, and technologies.
• Examine critically philosophical and other theoretical issues concerning the complex of
race and racism as human experience, knowledge, value, and/or cultural production.
Readings:
o Omi, Michael and Howard Winant, Racial Formation in the United States.
Routledge, 2nd edition (1994)
o Fanon, Frantz, Black Skin, White Masks. Grove Press (1991)
o Parks, Suzan-Lori, Topdog/Underdog. Theatre Communications Group (2002)
o Wolfe, George, The Colored Museum. Grove Press (1988)
o Rodriguez, Richard, Brown: The Last Discovery of America. Penguin Books
(2003)
o Hwang, David Henry, M. Butterfly. Plume Books (1994)
o Kushner, Tony, Angels in America, Parts I and II. Theatre Communications
Group (2003)
o Reader of critical essays.
***Books are available at the Douglass College Coop Bookstore.***
Activities and Grading
[1] 2 examinations: 20% each = 40%
[2] Take-home examination (essay questions): 20%
Race - 2
[3] Final essay (6-8 pages): 25%
[5] Class attendance and participation: 15%
♦ Class attendance is fundamental to getting a good grade; furthermore,
participation is required. Students are encouraged to engage in all class and group
discussions, if not with commentary on the reading material, certainly by asking
questions. This course is designed for intellectual exchange: every student is
responsible for reading and preparing the assigned texts before class meetings.
All discussions or interventions will be made individually, in pairs or small
groups. Remember: not staying on top of the reading is unfair to your classmates
who depend on your participation.
♦ All papers and exams must be turned in on time; no material will be accepted late
unless accompanied by a letter from the Dean’s Office, or other appropriate
documentation.
♦ The professor reserves the right to give impromptu quizzes during the semester.
Grading Scale:
92100=A; 8791=B+; 8186=B; 7780=C+; 7076=C; 6069=D; 059=F
Office hours:
Students are strongly advised to consult with the professor about any problems that might
arise regarding any text, ideas for final essay, presentations, etc. Office hours are
Tuesdays between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM—or by appointment. Do not bottle up all
questions for the session before the exams or essays.
Academic Integrity:
Except for collaborative assignments officially approved by the instructor in advance, all
work that a student submits must be his/her own independent effort. Students must cite
properly all outside sources consulted in preparing written assignments. Students should
review the university policy on Academic Integrity (see the website for the Teaching
Excellence Center: http://teachx.rutgers.edu/integrity/policy.html).
The Writing Program maintains a web site that defines and discusses plagiarism:
http://wp.rutgers.edu/courses/201/plagiarism_policy/. This site clarifies many issues
regarding the University’s policy on academic integrity. Failure to comply with this
policy can result in failure of the course.
This course will require supplementary research. Remember that
Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas of another as one’s own in
any academic exercise. To avoid plagiarism, every direct quotation must be
identified by quotations marks or by appropriate indentation and must be
properly cited in the text or in a footnote. (cited from University Regulations)
Any questions about what constitutes plagiarism should be discussed with the faculty
member. For information on proper documentation, consult “Acknowledging Sources,”
the guide prepared by the Rutgers American Studies Department, which will be
distributed in class. If you have further doubts regarding citation, please consult the MLA
Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th Ed.) to resolve any problem. Prof.
Sifuentes-Jáuregui has a copy available for reference.
Race - 3
An excellent primer on citing sources is available on the American Studies webpage:
http://amerstudies.rutgers.edu/documents/AkcnowldgingSources.pdf

Race - 4
RACE
Date
Topic
Assignment
January
19
Introduction
Discussion of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech
Racial Formation –
Definitions
Omi/Winant, Racial Formation, Part I, pp. 1-50
24
26
Omi/Winant, Racial Formation, Part II, pp. 53-91
31
Omi/Winant, Racial Formation, Part III and
Conclusion, pp. 95-159
February
2
Doubleconsciousness
7
DuBois selection, “Of Our Spiritual Strivings” in
The Souls of Black Folk
Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks, pp. 7-108
9
Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks, pp. 109-140
“Look, a Negro!”
14
Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks, pp. 141-232
16
Exam #1
21
Black-face
23
Black Faces
28
March
2
Discussion of Spike Lee’s Bamboozled
[The movie will be screened the week prior]
Wolfe, The Colored Museum
Wolfe, The Colored Museum
Race and
Brotherhood
7
Parks, Topdog/Underdog
Parks, Topdog/Underdog
9
Take-Home Exam Due
Spring
Break
21
23
Coloring
Rodriguez, Brown, pp. 1-79
Rodriguez, Brown, pp. 81- 167
Race - 5
28
30
Rodriguez, Brown, pp. 169-230
Oriental
Fashionings
April
4
6
Hwang, M. Butterfly, Acts 2 & 3, and “Afterword”
Whiteness
Austin, “Performative Utterances”
Butler, “”Burning Acts”
Exam #2
Desire
In-class screening of Scott McGhee’s Suture
11
13
18
Discussion of Suture
20
Queer Cultures and
Race
25
Putting it all
together…
27
May
2
Said selection, “Introduction” from Orientalism
Hwang, M. Butterfly, Act 1
J. Rodriguez, “Queer Latinidad” (selection)
McBride, “Why I Hate Abercrombie & Fitch”
[One-page proposal of final essay due]
Kushner, Angels in America, Part I
Kushner, Angels in America, Part II
Kushner, Angels in America, conclusion
Final Essay Due