POSC310L - Race and Political Thought

3 Credit(s)

Liberal Arts
Dual listed as HIST 216L This course is designed to explore some important themes concerning race in the American context. We focus primarily on African-American political thought, exploring different ideas, arguments, and concepts about race and society from a multi-disciplinary perspective. We read arguments from journalists, novelists, essayists, academics theorists, and religious and political leaders. The course is organized around four general issues or questions. The first question considers whether race is a biological category or a social construct. The second explores whether racial hierarchy is embedded in the structure of American politics or is a flaw in an essentially fair system. The third topic analyzes two differing approaches to equality: separation and integration. This third section considers arguments about whether integration or separation is the best political strategy for gaining full citizenship rights for African-Americans and other racial minorities. The last issue addresses diversity within the African-American community and considers whether inequality exists within the African-American community itself. We will examine each of these issues mainly through the writings of African-American social and political thinkers.

Prerequisite(s): One 200-level class from any subfield