English: Race & Ethnicity

Introductory courses addressing the representation and construction of race in literature and/or the contributions of ethnically diverse writers to the American culture. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Cross-listed with: CRES 1821.

Open to Degree and PACE students

In an interview several years ago, the now late, Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison stated that racism is a scholarly affair and one that is useful for whites. In the 1998 movie American History X, Ed Norton's character claims that all problems in this country are race-related. The late poet and activist Maya Angelou envisioned a time when “ideally, race should be [only] as important as the color coordination of one’s costume.” During a 2016 presidential debate, Hillary Clinton acknowledged that “race still determines too much.” And, this week at the Republican Convention, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley stated that "America is not a racist country." What do these statements mean? And what relevance do they have for us, in 2024, as this country is witness to overt acts of racist rhetoric, protests, and violence? This course considers a variety of contemporary texts -- novels, short stories, movies -- written by and about non-hegemonic groups living in the United States today that explore the intersections of race, class, socioeconomics, racism and institutionalized racism. Because the course expects students to engage in polemical and engaging dialogue, students are asked to “agree to disagree’ in a respectful environment.

In-person class; weekly assignments; Blackboard Discussion Board, short papers, group work.

Attendance is mandatory.