Latinos and the American Project, 1776-2026

Catalog description

As the United States approaches its semi quincentennial in 2026, this interdisciplinary course invites students to reflect on the nation's 250-year journey through the essential lens of the Latino experience. By integrating literature, history, and film, students will explore how Latino communities have shaped and continue to redefine the American story from the early colonial era to the present day. Students will trace the socio-historical evolution of major Latino groups—including Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and Central Americans—by examining the complexities of identity formation, exclusion, displacement, migration, immigration, and civil rights by pairing historical documents, literary works, film, music, and art to recover voices often excluded from mainstream narratives.