Human Rights, Race, and Punishment

Catalog description

This course examines how race, human rights, and punishment intersect in our communities and beyond. Students will explore how the American criminal justice system has shaped and been shaped by racial identity, examining both historical patterns and contemporary realities that affect our local and national communities. Through personal reflection and engagement with diverse perspectives—from formerly incarcerated individuals to scholars and activists—students will examine their own cultural assumptions about crime and justice while developing cultural competency around issues of racial equity. This interdisciplinary course helps students become more culturally aware citizens who can engage constructively with racial justice issues in their communities. Fall and Spring.