College Seminar (105-7-26)

Topic

The Problem We All Live With: Writing, Race, & Hur

Instructors

Robert Anthony Ward

Meeting Info

University Library 3670: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

This class seeks to unpack the ways in which ordinary Americans experience race in various facets of American Life. This serves the purpose of unpacking the distinctions between race, culture, and ethnicity so that we can critique the role race plays in spaces such as the workplace, schools, military, and even our personal relationships. It also serves the purpose of assisting us in being able to discern the meaning of actions between groups along lines of race, class, gender, and sexuality.

This class takes a backwards glance at understanding racial perceptions and policy through a rather unlikely but well-documented event in recent US history, a hurricane. Though, not just any hurricane. The social impact of Hurricane Katrina, which occurred nearly 20 years ago, in New Orleans also had implications for the US nationwide. We will look at the impact that the media coverage of Katrina had on popular culture, education, sports, and social policy. The legacy of Katrina is inextricably bound with that of race. The class will use Katrina as a case study to understand the real consequences of one of our nation's most divisive and destructive social ideas, some might even say an illusion…race.

Class Materials (Required)

Resisting Racism and Promoting Equity Through Community-Engaged Social Action: Challenging the Big Lies / ISBN: 978-1032133614

Class Attributes

WCAS College Seminar