Race and Ethnicity in the US
AAAS/History 224

Fall 2005

Course Objectives

1. To develop sufficient historical understanding to begin to converse knowledgeably and intelligently about contemporary issues of race, ethnicity, multi-culturalism and diversity.
2. To identify and understand the social constructions that permeate, limit, and inform this study, particularly the idea of "whiteness" and how it has changed over time.
3. To learn the basic history of formal policy and informal practice toward select racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. with the goal of becoming better decision-makers on issues involving race and ethnicity i.e. to connect the past and present in a meaningful way.
4. To practice those skills of honesty, compassion, active listening, clear thinking and justice which enable diverse people to live and work together in harmony and peace.
5 To further develop critical reading and thinking skills using historical documents, texts, media, lectures, and discussions, to develop research skills, and to express ideas clearly and persuasively in written papers.

Required Readings
Bernestine Singley, When Race Becomes Real
Matthew Frye Jacobson, Whiteness of a Different color
Richard Rodriguz, Brown
Helen Zia, Asian American Dreams
Ron Takaki Debating Diversity
Scott Malcomson, One Drop of Blood: The American Misadventure of Race

On Reserve and on line:
Primary and Secondary Source Documents--Note: there may be some changes or modifications as the course progresses.

Note: Any Student with a documented disability (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact Academic support services and the instructor during the first two weeks of the semester.

Course Requirements
Do the assigned reading and participate in class. 10%
Debate Groups and Responses 10%
2 short response papers (some choice) 20%
Short answer test 10%
Research paper or family history 15-20 pages 40%
Research Question 5%
Annotated bibliography for paper 5 %
Paper 20%
Class Presentation 10%
Final: Reflection Paper 10%

Papers are due in class on the date assigned. Late papers will be penalized.

Syllabus

Aug 25 Introduction, Parameters and Language
Social constructions of Race; Ethnicity and implications for Identity Issues
Identifying goals of a multicultural curriculum What is race? Where did the idea come from? When did you first encounter it? Talking about race Bernestine Singley, preface

Aug 30 Unpacking Social Constructions of Race
1790 Census 2000 Census
Read Singley, 1-28

Aug 31 James Cone "The Challenge of Race" convo

Sept 1 Understanding how The Past has Shaped the Present
Read Malcomson 1-65 "Colonial America" and rise of racial separatism and skim Malcolmson 133-184 " Concepts of Race from the "Old World"

Sept 6 "Free White" Founding Documents thru the lens of Race: Declaration, Constitution, Naturalization Act
Read Jacobson1-38 "Free White Persons" in the Republic 1790-1840
Read Singley, 87-110

Sept 8 Slavery in a Democratic republic: red, white and black
Malcomson 66-97 "Indian Slaveholders"

Cornel West, Finding Hope in Dark Times , By: West, Cornel, Tikkun, 08879982, Jul/Aug2004, Vol. 19, Issue 4 and excerpts from Democracy Matters http://www.logosjournal.com/issue_3.3/west.htm (Text on reserve)