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Dr.
Ricky K. Green
Ethnic Studies 100: Ethnic
Summer 2011 Office:
Amador 562A x83359 Lecture TWR 8:00-10:20 Office Hours: TWR 10:30-11:50 Anador 262
An introduction
to the ethnic group experience in the United States through an interdisciplinary
understanding of ethnic history, politics, and group development. During the semester students will focus on
the experiences of African Americans, Asian-Americans,
Chicanos/Mexican-Americans, and Native Americans. We will examine themes common and distinct
to ethnic groups and will attempt to reconstruct the various contributions of
ethnic groups to institutional life in the United States. Course
Objectives To develop a
sophisticated understanding of American society and the roles that non-European
groups play in shaping this society. To develop an
appreciation for interdisciplinary pursuits of knowledge. To develop an
understanding of the concept of ethnicity. To develop a
sophisticated understanding of the several factors, e.g., historical,
institutional, cultural, economic, and etc., which shape the social realities
of major non-European groups in the U.S. To encourage
students to become intellectually involved in problem solving. To develop
writing skills to the level where students can express their comprehension of
the subject in a clear, intelligent and coherent fashion. • First Paper 30 percent (6-7 pages): June 21st • Final Paper 35 percent (7-8 pages): July 7th • Observation Journal 25 percent: (two entries per week) • Class attendance/participation 10 percent: daily Required Texts: Ethnicity and Race, Stephen Cornell Selected Readings in CSUS Electronic Database (JSTOR) and Reserve Book Room Weeks Assignment Section One: Understanding Ethnic Identity 1-2 Ethnicity and Race, chapter 1-5 3-4 *Horowitz, “Dimensions of Ethnic Conflict” Section Two: Ethnic Conflict Ethnicity and Race, chapts. 6-8 *”Cultural Politics of the White Ethnic Class” *”Liberal Retreat from Race during the Post Civil Rights Era” “Ethnic Pluralism and Civic Responsibility” (JSTOR) 5-6 *West, “Beyond Eurocentrism” Section Three: Ethnic Couto, “Narrative, Free Space and Political Pluralism Leadership in Social Movements” (JSTOR)
*Cho, “Overcoming Our Legacy” *”Gendered Citizenship” *”Ice Cube Culture” *Chrenshaw, “Whose Story is it Anyway” *In Reserve
reading room. (JSTOR)
university electronic database Writing Assignments—This is an advanced study course. As a result students are expected to articulate their understanding of the course material through writing. Evaluations for the course consist of four 5-6 page essays spread throughout the semester. There will be no midterm or final in class exams.
Notes update June 3, 2011 Major Concepts •
Race—major
symbol and mode of human differentiation, usually denoting physical
differences such as color of skin, texture of hair, shape of eyes, nose, etc.
Considered by most scholars to be a social construction. •
Culture—a
people’s way of life. Not considered to be a social construction in itself
since the need for culture in any group precedes the development of social
constructions. However social constructions may become essential components
of any particular culture. •
Ethnic
group—subpopulation of individuals in a society who reveal a unique history
as well as distinctive behavioral, organizational, and cultural
characteristics (synthesis of race and culture). •
Social
construct—concept that does not necessarily exist by nature but for the
convenience of human society (political). •
Racial
hierarchy—society ordered along the lines of race (caste system, racial
stratification). •
Policy-a
program of actions adopted by a person, group, or government, or the set of
principles on which they are based (public policy) Ethnic Theories •
Assimilation •
Most important aspect of ethnicity is
culture (culture is understood as rational which means that it develops,
adapts; is dynamic) •
If culture is rational and dynamic it can be
socially constructed (one can swap out a group’s culture with that of
another) •
Weakness
of assimilation as a theory? •
•
Primordialism (things that an individual was
born into) •
Physical body, A person’s name, History and
group origins, Nationality, Language, Culture, Geography •
•
Weakness
of primordialism as a theory? •
•
Circumstantialism •
Plays down the relativism of culture for the
relativism of politics •
Ethnicity as primarily a political
phenomenon •
Ethnic groups as interest groups •
Temporary membership based upon power
relationships •
Tool of individual competition •
Ethnic identity is fluid and dynamic
(not fixed) •
•
Circumstantialism argues that there is no real
basis for group identity besides individual interest •
Weakness? Constructionist Theory (chapter 4) •
Both
self ascription and ascription by others are critical factors in making
ethnic identity and ethnic groups •
Ethnicity is fluid, dynamic (but unlike circumstantialism, constructionism
is determined by events and activism) •
We are here reunited with our old terms of
social construction (Events) and culture (Activism) •
•
Comprehensiveness
of ethnic identity •
How much ethnicity effects the organization
of life •
Cultural connections •
Intermarriage •
Assimilation
(what your author refers to as assimilation is really more complex a
relationship between self ascription and ascription by others or the pull
between social construction and cultural development) •
Students
will need an e-mail account and computer access to the Web. All Sacramento
State students enrolled in one or more units can create a SacLink account for e-mail. Although a home computer
with Internet access running Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or
Netscape Navigator would be beneficial, students can access the Internet from
one of the campus
student labs. Check out System Check
and Computer
Hardware Recommendations for more information about equipment. Last updated: 11/11/2005 |
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