African American Politics (327-0-20)
Instructors
Reuel R Rogers
847/491-2644
Scott, #315
Meeting Info
University Hall 122: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
This course takes stock of Black politics in the U.S. in the decades since the Civil Rights Movement. We will explore Blacks' ongoing and still fitful quest for racial equality and democratic responsiveness. Our review will pay close attention to the internal dynamics of Black politics. As we chart Blacks' political gains and setbacks, we will focus on class, gender, and other cleavages in the population to see how different groups have fared. We also will examine Blacks' fraught relations with whites, their engagement with mainstream political institutions, and their efforts to secure their rights and advance their interests from within and outside these institutions at the national and local level. The course materials cover a mix of topics that have occupied students of race and American politics since the Civil Rights Movement. These include: ongoing intergroup conflict and prejudice; segregation; social provision and criminal justice policies; systemic anti-Black racism in law enforcement; racial dynamics in voting and access to the ballot; partisan politics; and Blacks' electoral fortunes, including the election of the country's first Black president and the ensuing political developments. The overarching goal of the course is to shed light on the state of American democracy by studying the contemporary political experiences of Blacks.
Learning Objectives
The course is designed to expose students to key concepts, theories, and methods for understanding the workings of American politics and the nature of American democracy through a close analysis of the contemporary political experiences of African Americans, their ongoing quest for racial equality, and their bids for democratic responsiveness.
Class Materials (Required)
Walton, Hanes, Robert Smith, and Sherri Wallace. American Politics and the African American Quest for Universal Freedom, 8th ed. 2017. New York: Routledge e-book: ISBN 9781315620992
Class Attributes
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - Parkes Hall 224: Thurs 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - Parkes Hall 214: Thurs 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - Parkes Hall 224: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - Parkes Hall 215: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM