African American Studies
320-0-20: The Social Meaning of Race :

Instructor: John David Marquez
Office address: Kresge 2-320
Phone: 847-467-0503
E-mail: "Dr. John D. Márquez"
Office Hours:

Expected Enrollment: 40

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Despite popular assumptions of the “assimilation” of immigrants, the “extinction” of indigenous peoples, and the emergence of a “color-blind” society,” race continues to shape many aspects of our lives. It often determines the neighborhoods in which we live, the jobs open to us, the kinds of education we receive, our access to healthcare, and even the quality of air that we breathe. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the basic social and theoretical issues in the field of 20th century race and ethnic relations. We will focus on the emergence and persistence of racial stratification in areas of the U.S. legal system, health and medicine, the environment, popular media, and military conflict. Special attention will be paid to how racially aggrieved communities have resisted inequality through cultural production, grass roots organizing, and revolutionary struggle. While the experiences of all racial and ethnic groups will be examined, this course will focus primarily on the history and plights of nation’s two largest groups of color, Latinos/as and African Americans.

[Course Descriptions for Spring 2009] [Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences] [AF_AM_ST African American Studies]