You could read this slave's biography in his back.
A chilly reception from the neighbors (who could use a proofreader)
"Scientific" racism from the past...
What does racism look like today?
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The United States was founded on the principles of freedom and equality; the founders assured us that "all men are created equal," and that we are all entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Yet this country has failed, at times rather spectacularly, to live up to these ideals. All of us know from our own observation that some degree of racial inequality exists; depending on our own status, we either benefit from or are disadvantaged by this inequality, which we may see as limited or significant.
In this course, we will move beyond personal observation and explore racial inequality in the U.S. in a thorough and systematic way, by addressing the following questions:
• What is the nature of racism, prejudice, discrimination and privilege, and how have they changed over time?
• How have particular groups come to occupy particular positions in the American racial hierarchy?
• What are the cultural images and ideologies that perpetuate and legitimate racial inequality?
In addition to these large topics, we will spend time discussing other racial issues such as immigration, affirmative action, hate speech and so on. You will also have a chance to learn something about most of the major racial groups in the United States, and to compare their experiences. My hope is that you will gain from this course a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of racial inequality in America. Such an understanding is basic, I believe, to interpreting our own experiences, as well as determining whether and how we want our society to change.
