Series 1: Honors 199, "Inquiries in Contemporary American Civilization: Understanding Race, Challenging Racism", Fall 2020

Race and racism are central parts of American life, yet have long been considered topics too provocative to discuss in polite company. In this course, we will address these concepts head-on. The product of a collaboration between students and faculty, Honors 199: Understanding Race, Challenging Racism considers the long and complicated history of race and racist ideologies in the US, and how they continue to shape politics, culture, and society in the twenty-first century. Students will examine the intersections of racism with other oppressive ideologies, like sexism classism, homophobia, and ableism, among others, while envisaging what a more fair and equitable society might look like. Students will spend considerable time reflecting on their own experiences, as well as honing their ability to engage in productive dialogue. At the end of the course, students will outline a set of effective strategies for facilitating a campus-wide conversation on racism and its intersections. By the end of the course, students will have significantly enriched their ability not only to articulate their own thoughts about race and antiracism, but also to use and evaluate appropriate methods for engaging in conversation about these issues.