Urban Change and Insurgent Movements in Asian/American New York

Catalog description

In this course, we will study a history of Asian/American New York. Through a close reading of the built environment, we will study histories of urban change and insurgent movements built by communities of color to imagine new urban futures. Throughout the semester, students will work on creating a walking tour that identifies significant sites, stories of Asian New Yorkers, and structures that shape our pasts and futures. Through a study of everyday stories, we will connect the past to the present, the local to the global, and our classroom to the city. Together, we will explore questions like: How has Asian migration shaped New York? What are the dimensions of urban change? How do global economies impact New York’s Asian communities? What are the impacts of gentrification? Who is strategizing and envisioning new futures?