Purpose of Course: This seminar focuses on recent social science research on black and white Americans. We will emphasize these topics: deep societal structures, the historical background, past and present racial attitudes and ideologies, the reality of “whiteness,” racism and the media, racial discrimination and its costs, everyday experiences with racism, and anti-discrimination policies. We will review major books dealing with these and related issues. The seminar will be discussion oriented.

Course Requirements:

1. Regular participation in class discussions;

2. Twelve critique/comment papers (about 3-4 pages each) on readings from the books below.

 The Analytical Comment-Critique Papers:

Students will prepare twelve comment-and-critique papers on the reading assignments and bring papers to class for discussion. These papers should analyze critically just one or two important issues in the reading assignment, issue which you find thought-provoking or problematical. Analyze in some detail an issue of interest. Some approaches: 1) Develop a logical critique of the arguments you analyze (e.g., Does the evidence support the arguments?); 2) Compare material in readings with research material presented in class; 3) Compare and contrast material in one reading assignment with that in another; or 4) Use material in reading assignment to assess research data you have studied. The point of the papers is to demonstrate that you've thought through and analyzed important issues in the reading assignment. The papers will also be useful for you in working out possible future research projects in this area.