Race & Ethnic Relations in the U.S.

Sociology 215-001

Summer 2002

 

Time: Monday-Friday; 9:50-10:50 a.m.

Room: Quigley 206

Instructor: Bill Lovekamp

Office: Faner 4340, Phone # 453-3892

Office Hours: M,T,W 11 am -12 noon and/or by appt.

 

I.  Textbooks:

 

Joseph F. Healey. 1998. Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Class. (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks,

            CA: Pine Forge Press.

 

Rothenberg, Paula S. 2001. Race, Class, and Gender in the United States. (5th ed.).

 

II.  Student Learning Objectives:

 

This course examines the status of racial, ethnic, and cultural minority groups from historical, economic, and political perspectives.  It is designed to expand knowledge of theory, research, and current events in regards to the relations of race, ethnicity, gender, and class in the United States.  It is the intent of this course to introduce key topics, stimulate individual thought and enhance the understanding of group interactions in American society.  This process will involve class lectures and discussions, required readings, videos, and participation in a group presentation.

 

Students in this course will be able to:

 

1)      Demonstrate an understanding of such sociological concepts as assimilation, pluralism, ascribed and achieved status, prejudice and discrimination;

 

2)      Display basic knowledge of historical, socioeconomic, and political demographics of various racial/ethnic groups in the United States;

 

3)      Demonstrate critical thinking and understanding about different theories and perspectives pertaining to race, class, gender, and sexuality; and

 

4)      Apply sociological concepts for the analysis of race and ethnicity to personal and/or familial experience.

 

III.  Guidelines/Ground Rules for the Course:

 

1)      Acknowledge that racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia exist.

 

2)      Acknowledge that one of the meanings of racism/sexism is that we have been systematically taught misinformation about our own group and especially members of other groups.

 

3)      We cannot be blamed for the misinformation we have learned, but we will be held responsible for repeating misinformation after we have learned otherwise.

 

4)      Victims are not to be blamed for their oppression.

 

5)      We will assume that people are always doing the best they can.

 

6)      We will actively pursue information about our own groups and those of others.

 

7)      We will share information about our groups with other members of the class and we will NEVER demean, devalue, or in any way “put down” people for their experiences.

 

8)      We each have an obligation to actively combat the myths and stereotypes about our own groups and other groups so that we can break down the walls which prohibit group cooperation and group gain.

 

9)      We want to create a save atmosphere for open discussion.  Thus, at times, members of the class may wish to make a comment that they do not want repeated outside of the classroom.  If so, the student will preface his or her remarks with a request and the class will agree not to repeat the remarks.

 

(**Ground rules 1-9 by Lynn Weber, Center for Research on Women, University of Memphis, TN 38152)

 

IV.  Classroom Etiquette:

 

Attendance - You are expected to attend class regularly and attendance will be taken on a daily basis.  If you miss a class session, you are expected to give the instructor a written reason for missing that class including your name, date(s) of absence, class time, and a statement explaining why you were not in class.  The written statement is to be turned in during the next class meeting.  Your grade will not be based on attendance and the reason for asking for this information will be explained at the end of the semester.

 

Tardiness - You should come to class on time. Walking into class late is disrespectful to both your instructor and your fellow students and will not be tolerated.

 

Missed Work - Late papers will not be accepted in this course.  Any deadlines regarding written work or student meetings will be announced will in advance of due dates.  It should not be assumed that you will be given make-up exams if you miss a test day.  Exams missed because of serious illness, death in the family, or other serious emergencies (automobile breakdowns do not qualify), require informing the instructor within 24 hours of the class meeting missed.  Work can only be turned in late if you have a reasonable excuse for your absence. This means a doctor’s excuse or other official document.  At that time, appropriate measures will be discussed to complete the course requirements.  Otherwise, failure to show up for an exam on the scheduled day will result in the score of a zero.

 

Assignments- Any assigned work to be turned in must be typed or word-processed.  Handwritten work will not be accepted in this course.

 

Plagiarism - You should be aware of plagiarism in every paper or assignment you write. Any time you use the ideas of someone else you must give them credit. You should put quotation marks around all direct quotations and cite the author at the end of the passage. If you are unsure of the proper way to do this see me before you turn in any work. Any work that has been plagiarized will receive a failing grade and may be turned in to the university as a violation of the student code of conduct.

 

Readings - I will not discuss everything that your texts cover. I see no point in simply telling you what your book has already told you. However, you are responsible for all of the information I ask you to read. This means that if you read something that you do not understand, it is up to you to ask me for clarification. We will use class time to discuss and build on the readings. I write each lecture with the assumption that you have read the assigned readings for the day. In order to follow the lecture and participate in the class discussions it will be necessary to do the readings before coming to class.

 

Office Hours - You should make use of my office hours. If you have any concerns about the class I will be quite happy to discuss them with you. I realize some people feel uncomfortable speaking out in a group. It is fine to come and talk to me in private about issues that interest you.  I prefer you interact with the class but speaking to me also counts as participation.

 

V.  Evaluation:

 

            Mid-Term Exam                        100 pts.

            Final Exam                                100 pts.

            Paper/Book Report                    100 pts.

            Quizzes (5@10pts. each)             50 pts.

            TOTAL                                    350 pts.

 

Grading Scale:               A=350-315

                                    B=314-280

                                    C=279-245

                                    D=244-210

                                    F=209 or below

 

Students’ grades will be determined by the following:

 

1)      Quizzes/Homework Assignments:  Quizzes will be given periodically throughout the semester.  These may be announced in class or they may be unannounced, pop quizzes.  Therefore, keeping up with the readings and assignments is vitally important.  Quizzes may appear in either multiple choice or short answer form.

 

2)      Exams:  There will be a mid-term exam and a final exam.  Exams may consist of a combination of multiple choice, true/false, matching, identification, and essay questions.  The exams will cover chapters from the textbooks, lectures, and any other materials handed out during the course of the semester.  Exams are worth 100 points each and the final exam will be comprehensive, covering all course material.

 

3)      Research Paper/Book Report: You are responsible for either writing a 5-8 page paper on a topic that is relevant to this course or a 5-8 page book review/report.  We will dedicate a few class periods to discussing the papers and book reviews and specific guidelines will be handed out in class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI.  Reading Assignments and Lecture Schedule:

 

            Selections followed by (R) signify that the readings are in the Rothenberg reader.

 

Week 1 June 10-14: Introduction to the course, sociology, and an overview of

racism and discrimination.

 

Healey, Ch. 1, Diversity in the U.S.

 

Tatum, “Defining Racism” (R-100)

Omi & Winant, “Racial Formations” (R-11)

                        McIntosh, “White Privilege” (R-163)

 

Week 2 June 17-21: Introduction to Minority Groups (cont’d), Understanding Prejudice                            & Discrimination.

                       

                        Healey Ch. 2: Assimilation and Pluralism

 

                        Frye, “Oppression” (R-139)

                        Arboleda, “Race is a Four-Letter Word” (R-420)

 

                        Healey Ch. 3: Prejudice

 

                        “The Problem: Discrimination” (R-186)

 

Week 3 June 24-28: Understanding Prejudice & Discrimination (cont’d)

                       

                        Healey Ch. 4: Prejudice in the 1990’s

 

                        Sklar, “The Growing Wealth Gap” (R-267)

“Wage Gap” (R-305)

 

Week 4 July 1-5: Understanding The Past

 

                        MIDTERM EXAM (Monday July 1)

 

                        Healey Ch. 5: Minority Groups in Preindustrial America

 

                        Hess, “Racial and Ethnic Minorities” (R-324)

                        “How It Happened: Race and Gender Issues in the US Law” (R-427)

                        NO CLASS Thurs July 4--- INDEPENDENCE DAY ---

 

Week 5           July 8-12: Understanding the Present

 

                        Healey Ch 7, African Americans

 

                        “The Three-Fifths Compromise” (R-447)

                        “Dred Scot v. Sandford” (R-459)

                        DuBois, “The Black Codes” (R-466)

                        Wright, “Ethics of Living Jim Crow” (R-21)

 

                        Healey Ch 8, Native Americans

 

                        “Indian Tribes” (R-436)

                        Silko, “The Border Patrol State” (R-211)

                        “Elk v. Wilkins” (R-478)

                       

Week 6           July 15-19: Understanding the Present (cont’d)

 

                        Healey Ch 9: Hispanic Americans

 

                        Cofer, “The Myth of the Latin Woman” (R-356)

                        Navarro, “Latin Gain Visibility in Cultural Life the US” (R-363)

                        Anzaldua, “En Rapport, In Opposition” (R-595)

                       

Week 7           July 22-26: Understanding the Present (cont’d)

 

                        Wed, July 24: Research Papers/Book Reports Due

 

Healey Ch 10: Asian Americans

 

                        Ragaza, “I Don’t Count as ‘Diversity’” (R-209)

                        Guillermo, “Grand-Slam Breakfast?” (R-218)

                        Shah, “Asian American?” (R-351)

                        Lorber, “The Social Construction of Gender” (R-47)

                        Hubbard, “The Social Construction of Sexuality” (R-64)

                        Wozencraft, “Gender Bias on Wall Street” (R-199)

                        Albelda & Tilly, “Women, Income, and Poverty” (R-305)

                        Ettelbrick, “Confronting Obstacles to Lesbian and Gay Equality” (R-497)

Mohr, “Anti-Gay Stereotypes” (R-517)

                                               

Week 8           July 29-Aug 1: Summary, Conclusions, & a Look at the Future

 

                        Healey Ch 13: Minority Groups and US Society

 

                        Lorde, “Age, Race, Class, and Sex” (R-588)

                        Bronski, “Confronting Anti-Gay Violence” (R-627)

                        Abelson, “A Push from the Top Shatters a Glass Ceiling” (R-636)

                        Hout & Lucas, “Narrowing the Income Gap” (R-649)

                        Yamamoto, “Interracial Justice” (R-654)

 

                        FINAL EXAM Thursday, Aug. 1: 12:00 – 1:50 pm