Race & Citizenship in the U.S.

Catalog description

This seminar examines racial inequities and contested meanings of citizenship in modern U.S. history. Students will comparatively and relationally analyze experiences of Asian Americans, African Americans, Latinx, Native Americans, and Pacific Islander Americans by exploring how interpretations of American citizenship and identity have changed over time. The class will discuss how the judicial and legislative systems have institutionally racialized American citizenship, how extralegal practices such as racial profiling have contributed to racial injustices, and how people of color and noncitizens (i.e. residents of American territories, undocumented persons, immigrants, and refugees) have struggled for full citizenship rights via political activity, community engagement, and protest. Restriction: no freshmen. Offered once a year or every other year.