COURSE TITLE: Rethinking the Color Line
COURSE NUMBER: AMCS 100 Sections 14 & 19
SECTION TIMES/DAYS: TR 1:35-2:50 and TR 3:00-4:15
INSTRUCTOR: Paul Lin
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In 1903, W.E.B. Du Bois wrote that "the problem of the twentieth
century is the problem of the color-line." Today, it appears that Du
Bois's assessment of American society, in many ways, still remains true
for the twenty-first century. This course is an examination of the ways
in which race and ethnicity continue to play a significant role in our
contemporary society, often in ways that are made invisible by culture,
politics, and economics. We will begin by looking at the various
theories used to define and understand the meanings of race and
ethnicity, looking in particular at the extent to which racial and
ethnic identity is shaped by politics and culture. We will then turn
our attention to the topics of prejudice and discrimation, and we will
consider the environments in which racist attitudes and behaviors are
shaped and likely to occur. The course will then examine the role that
race and ethnicity play in various social institutions, such as the
criminal justice system, the labor market, and the media. Finally, we
will take a close look at the issue of colorblindness in our post-civil
rights society, and question the extent to which racial and ethnic
equality has been achieved. Throughout the term, we will look for
contemporary examples of the material discussed in class, and students
will be encouraged to conduct their own investigations of the colorline
in our current social environment.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
To be determined
COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS:
To be determined