Race, Ethnicity, and Culture

Catalog description

Why is it that even today discussions concerning ethnic diversity, race, color and the Constitutional promise and actual practice of equal opportunity continue to evoke uneasiness and personal discomfort? This is an interesting question since our cultural context and national identity are often admired as symbols of liberty. Whether we seek employment in education, business, or social services, we need to be aware of the factors that shape the unique experiences of diverse groups. To expand this awareness, the course analyzes how differences in ethnicity, skin color and other indicators of group membership impact vulnerability and opportunity for diverse groups. The legal and moral questions related to the responses by the mainstream population to racial and cultural minority groups, including the new immigrants are also examined. Stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination of a wide range of social categories, and the role they play in shaping of the structures of power are also analyzed.