Instructor: Dr. Welch & Dr. Burk
An examination of the idea and reality of race during key phases of U.S. History, with an emphasis on the contemporary situation. The focus includes Native people and immigrants as well as European and African-Americans. The course asks: what kind of distinction is "race"? Is it a fiction or an inevitable social construction? To understand the multiple meanings and experiences of race, the course draws on sources from science, literature law, religion, and philosophy. Several ethical problems present in current debates about race, such as affirmative action and racial classifications will be addressed.
This is a Certified Writing Course.