ETHS A100: Contemporary Ethnic America
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 01/30/1991 |
| Top Code | 220300 - Ethnic Studies |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S) |
| Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Global and Multicultural Requirement (OGM) | Yes |
| California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) |
|
| Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
An examination of contemporary American dominant, ethnic and racial minority intergroup relations from historical, sociological and psychological perspectives. Addresses continuing issues of racism and discrimination. The course will explore the experiences of Native Americans, Blacks and African Americans, LatinX, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Communication: Compare and contrast cultural/historical experiences of racism, injustice, inequality, and social struggle of the four major ethnic/racial groups contributing to the shaping of contemporary intergroup relations in the United States.
- Thinking: Analyze a relevant social issue or event to critically examine its impact on intergroup relations.
- Global Awareness: Identify and compare global issues of racism, discrimination, and ethno-violence as it relates to the parallel anti-colonial struggle of these four major ethnic/racial groups.
- Personal Development and Responsibility: Recognize and describe current examples of intergroup dynamics in the real-world community such as immigration, sexuality, religion, and problems of minorities including racial groups, the disabled, gender, and sexuality as they intersect with the four major ethnic/racial groups.
Course Objectives
- 1. Identify the principles and processes that have shaped intergroup relations, critical events, histories, intellectual traditions, contributions, lived-experiences and social struggles of America Native Americans African Americans, Asian Americans, and LatinX people and the impact it has had on their identity and positions of power.
- 2. Compare the significant contributions made by Native Americans , African Americans, Asian Americans, and LatinX communities and immigrant groups to the development of the United States.
- 3. Define, analyze, and articulate the concepts of prejudice, race, ethnicity, racism, and discrimination by examining major sociological perspectives related to colonialism, eurocentrism, white supremacy, and imperialism.
- 4. Discuss the concepts of assimilation and pluralism and their impact on the formation of American society and the process of social change that has impacted the self-determination of Native Americans , African Americans, Asian Americans, and LatinX communities.
- 5. Discuss the concept of power as it relates to majority-minority relations and how it relates to white supremacy, social justice, and self-determination for Native Americans , African Americans, Asian Americans, and LatinX communities.
- 6. Articulate the major dynamics of race relations in the United States since World War II and analyze the intersection racism and stratification as it relates to issues such as religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability, tribal citizenship, sovereignty, language, and/or age Native American, African American, Asian American, and/or Latina and Latino American communities.
- 7. Discuss the current dynamics of intergroup relations in American society in regards to affirmative action, immigration policy, social justice movements, liberation ideology, reparations, and the rights of other minorities such as women, the disabled, and LGBTQIA members of Native Americans , African Americans, Asian Americans, and LatinX communities.
Lecture Content
1. Introduction to class; basic terminology/orientation to definitions Concepts of power, race, majority, minority Ethnicity, ethnic groups 2. Theoretical approaches and ideologies Anglo Conformity; Melting Pot; Cultural Pluralism Anti-Assimilationist ideologies 3. Concept of Prejudice Concept of Discrimination Concept of racism How to diminish prejudice 4. Patterns of race relations: Paternalistic, Rigid competitive, fluid competitive ; Social-structural theories: Order/Functionalist v. Conflict Ethnic inequality 5. Origins and causes of ethnic inequality Stratification systems: caste, class Importance of Initial Contact Blauner, Noel theories 6. Changing patterns of majority-minority relations Civil War to WW II After WW II 7. Contemporary intergroup relations Social Movements: conditions Proposed solutions: Assimilation, Pluralism, Separatism 8. Cross-cultural studies on majority-minority relations South Africa; Northern Ireland; Canada; Former Soviet Union, Former Yugoslavia; Middle East Peaceful. relations: Switzerland, Brazil, Hawaii 9. U.S. today: racial/ethnic inequality Issues: African American debate Issues: Latino ethnic consciousness White "ethnic revival" Environmental racism 10. American economic system and minorities Theories on economics of discrimination Employment, housing, health care discrimination and inequality 11. American political system and inequality Political participation/political representation Obstacles to greater minority political power nb 12. The U.S. educational system and majority-minority relations Affirmative Action debate Immigration: past and present 13. Alternative models of race relations: assimilation; pluralism, separatism Interactionalist approach The relative importance of class and race 14. Where do we stand. Discussion groups/ Panel Proposing solutions for improving intergroup relations
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
The course will consist of lectures, class and small group discussions, films/videos and examination of miscellaneous audio and visual materials related to the subject area being examined.
Reading Assignments
Critical analysis on assigned books or current issues.
Writing Assignments
Critical analysis on assigned books or current issues.
Out-of-class Assignments
Critical analysis on assigned books or current issues.
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Critical analysis on assigned books or current issues.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Critical analysis on assigned books or current issues. 3-4 pages essay paper on subjects related to class content assessed with a rubric.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Ortiz, P. An African-American and Latinx History of the United States, ed. Beacon Press, 2018 2. Required Bonilla-Silva. Racism Without Racists: Color-blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in the United States, ed. Rowman and Littlefield, 2013 Rationale: latest edition 3. Required Dunbar-Ortiz, R. An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States, ed. Beacon Press, 2015 Rationale: latest edition 4. Required Wilson, A. C. . For Indigenous Eyes Only: A Decolonization Handbook, 1st ed. Sar Press, 2005 Rationale: latest edition 5. Required OBrien, E.. The Racial Middle: Latinos and Asian Americans Living Beyond the Racial Divide, ed. NY University Press, 2008 Rationale: latest edition