Introduction to Ethnic Studies

Catalog description

Advisory: ENGL C1000 (ENGL 101) This Ethnic Studies course utilizes a comparative and interdisciplinary approach to introduce students to the field of Ethnic Studies, focusing on the historical and contemporary development of theories, philosophies, concepts, issues, social movements, and lived-experiences of Native Americans, Chicana/o and Latina/o/x Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. Students explore the intersectionality of race and racism with class, gender, religion, and sexuality in both a historical context and in contemporary U.S. society. The course brings attention to systems of oppression foregrounding race and ethnicity, including histories and legacies of colonialism and indigenous dispossession, racial capitalism, chattel slavery and coerced labor, immigration and citizenship laws, and artistic and intellectual contributions. Moreover, students examine the effects of institutional racism and marginalization along with challenges against the status of racism in society and struggle for social justice, self-determination, liberation, anti-racism, decolonization, identity, and political representation by historically aggrieved racialized groups and communities. (UC, CSU, AVC)