Introduction to American Racial
and Multicultural Studies
PROFESSOR FITZGERALD
ARMS 122
Fall 2009
THIS SYLLIBUS, UPDATED, IS ONLINE AT
HTTP://WWW.STOLAF.EDU/PEOPLE/FITZ/ARMS122.HTML
OFFICE HOURS: Monday 12-1, Tuesday 3-4, Thursday 12:30-1:30, and by appointment, in Holland Hall 532. I can generally consult after class too. Also, look for me in the mornings at the Cage, I'm happy to be interrupted.
PHONE NUMBER: 3162 (leave message).
Because of the threat of a flu outbreak this semester, you may
need to contact me at home. My cell is (507) 321-2036, and my
home number is (507) 663-6041. If you are seriously ill, I need
to hear about it to figure out how to accommodate you best.
THIS SEMESTER WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE THE FLU. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY HOME AND TO CALL ME ON MY CELL PHONE, ESPECIALLY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK AT LENGTH AT THAT TIME. IT SHOULD BE EASY TO MAKE UP MISSED MATERIAL IN INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCES OR SUPPLEMENTAL CLASS MEETINGS, AND I'LL EXPECT YOU TO DO SO.
E-MAIL: fitz (I try to check my e-mails morning and late afternoon weekdays, and on weekends too before assignments are due. If you have questions about the readings or assignments, this might be a useful tool. Also, e-mail me promptly if you see a problem with the syllabus or access to the readings)
Some students have questions, or are afraid to speak up in class on some topic. Feel free to e-mail me privately and I'll do my best to respond.
Finally, the course e-mail alias "arms-122" is yours to use, if you care to communicate to the class, or take issue with something I said in class. Just be polite about it, especially when you talk about one another.
COURSE OBJECTIVE: This class is intended to provide an
introduction to ethnic diversity in the United States, specifically
examining the experience of African Americans, Latinos, Native
Americans and Asian Americans. The course
is basically a historical look at race relations over the centuries in
American history. The Takaki book serves
as the text covering all four main groups, and the other works look at
the individual ethnic groups at particular moments. The class
culminates with a research paper on a more contemporary issue related
to race, ethnicity, or immigration.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
Takaki, A Different Mirror
Calloway, Our Hearts Fell to the Ground
Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Houston, Farewell to Manzanar
Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi
Etulain, Cesar Chavez
Ueda, Postwar Immigrant America
READING SCHEDULE--(this isn't a contract, I can change dates
or assignments as needed)
September 9: Class Introduction and Overview of Broad Themes
September 11: Obama and Diversity in America
Reading: Takaki, Chapter 1, 3-25
September 14: A New World: Europeans and Native Americans
Reading: Takaki, Chapter 2, 26-48
September 16: Colonial America: Slavery and Race
Reading: Takaki, Chapter 3, 49-71
September 21: In Class Film
September 23: After the Revolution: Slavery and Racial
Ideas
September 25: Slavery and Resistance
Reading: Jacobs, first half
September 28: Slavery and Resistance
Reading: finish Jacobs, second half.
September 30: White Immigration and Race in 19th
Century America
Reading: Takaki, Chapter 6, 131-154
October 2: The West:
Hispanics and Chinese Immigration
Reading: Takaki, Chapter 7 and 8, 155-205
October
5: Lecture--Race and the Civil
War Era
FIRST PAPER DUE
October 7: How the West Was Lost: Native
Americans
Reading: Calloway, 1-70
October 9: How the West Was Lost: Native
Americans
Reading: Calloway, 70-149
October 12: Dispossession on the Plains
Reading: finish Calloway, 150-208
October 14: Native Assimilation as
Policy
Reading: Takaki, intro and Chapter 9, 209-231
October 16:
Asian Immigration: Hawaii and the West
Reading: Takaki, Chapter 10, 233-261
October 19: The "New" Immigration--and Mexican Migration Northward
Reading: Takaki, Chapters 11, 262-291
Reading: Takaki, Chapter 13--FILM
REVIEW DUE
Reading: Houston, first half, to end of chapter 11
October 30: World War II and Japanese Internment
Reading: Finish Houston, second half, to end of book
Reading: Continue Moody, 1-123
Reading: Continue Moody, 123-233
Approximately November 13: Integration and Separation
Class Cancelled, evening showing of films from the 1960s struggle
Start Reading on Moody, 237-424
November 16: The Movement and its Discontents
Continue Moody, 237-424
November 18: The Movement and its Discontents
Finish Moody
November 20: The Civil Rights Struggle
Reading, Takaki, intro and Chapter 15, 383-404
November 23: IN CLASS FILM--SECOND
PAPER DUE
November 25, 27: THANKSGIVING BREAK
November 30: Civil Rights Echos: The Latino Civil Rights Struggle
Reading: Etulain, Chavez, 1-52
December 2: Chavez
and the Farmworkers
Reading: finish Etulain, Chavez, 53-118.
December 4: Toward the Future: Immigration in Contemporary America
Reading, Ueda, Postwar Immigrant America, 1-58
December 7: Immigration Issues Today
Reading: Finish Ueda, Postwar Immigrant America, 58-111
December 9: Immigration Issues Today
Reading: Finish Ueda, Postwar Immigrant America, 111-155
IN CLASS EXAM
DURING FINAL WEEK--Monday, December 21, 9-11 AM
GRADING:
First Paper =15%
Second Paper=15%
Midterm =15%
Third Paper=15%
Final =20% +
Participation (and film review) =20%
(With respect to class participation, what this means is that you've read the material, on time, and are ready to talk intelligently about it. I tend to call on people, because it makes for a livelier class and helps me do a better job. If you are wholly unable to speak up, fine, but take it upon yourself to speak to me about the readings outside class, or e-mail me to demonstrate mastery of the material).
Anything more than three absences during the semester is a problem.
Save yours for when you really do get sick. THIS SEMESTER YOU
HAVE TO EXPECT TO GET THE FLU SOMETIME INCONVENIENT. DON'T GET
BEHIND, IT MAY COST YOU THIS TIME.
In addition to the above coursework, all students have to see a
movie,
play, good television show, or best of all, campus event dealing with
a diversity theme or issue. Students will write a two page response to
their
choice, and how it fits in with the themes or issues of the
class.
It must be turned in before fall break, to prevent rush
jobs at the end of the semester.
READINGS, PAPERS AND EXAMS:
The reading load for the course is relatively heavy. Find another course if this is a problem.
The first two papers are of intermediate length. They are to be based on the assigned readings and lectures. The third paper involves outside research in contemporary immigration-related issues.
Participation includes both attendance and intelligent contributions to course discussion. The instructor will take attendance periodically, when convenient.
Both the mid-term and the final will be primarily essay exams.
I can also give snap quizzes on the reading, if people don't seem to be
doing the reading on time.
Due date for papers is at the start of class. Late papers will generally be accepted with a late penalty, for a day or two after the paper is due. If you have an ironclad excuse which you can demonstrate, I'll honor it.
Students requiring special accomodation should let me know as soon
as possible, with accompanying certification. I want to be
helpful on such issues, but people need to let me know early, and
remind me when appropriate.
Plagiarism will be not be tolerated. Familiarize yourself with
the relevant guidelines:
http://www.stolaf.edu/stulife/thebook/academic/integrity.html
FINAL OBSERVATION: Everybody has his virtues: here's mine. I tend to be pretty good about not getting upset about people disagreeing with me, especially given the nature of the subject matter. It just means you've been paying attention. So speak your peace; I won't grade you down for it. But don't get upset if I disagree with you either.