For this module, we have covered topics such as race, ethnicity, gender, intersectionality, and slavery in the Americas. The purpose of this assignment is to reflect on what you've learned so far in the class and engage with several of the learning objectives for this course.
To achieve the objective(s),
- You will have read all course materials, watched relevant YouTube videos, engaged with my lecture videos, and participated in a discussion board post in this module
- You will complete all parts of the reflective essay and thoroughly integrate evidence from the course texts and videos into your responses
The course content will help you include evidence in your responses to the questions posed in the reflective essay.
This assignment is a reflective essay. Remember that all assignments in my class are graded Complete/Incomplete, so please be sure to follow all the instructions carefully and ensure you are fulfilling all portions of the rubric.
See the instructions and rubric below for more details!
Objectives and Outcomes
Student Learning Objectives
- Define the concepts of race, ethnicity, and racialization
- Assess the growth and diversity of ethnic and racial groups in the United States
- Explain how concepts of race and ethnicity are socially and politically constituted and institutionalized
- Explain the intersection of race and ethnicity with other forms of difference affected by hierarchy and oppression, such as class, gender, sexuality, religion, national origin, immigration status, ability and/or age
- Appraise and debate sociological theories of inter-ethnic conflict
- Analyze and articulate the concepts of prejudice, discrimination, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, and white supremacy
- Examine critical events in the histories, cultures and intellectual traditions, with special focus on the lived-experiences, social struggles, agency and group-affirmation of the following four historically defined racialized core groups: Native Americans, African Americans, Latina/o Americans and Asian Americans.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Apply sociological theories to the histories, cultures and intellectual traditions of the following racialized groups: Native Americans, African Americans, Latina/o Americans and Asian Americans
- Apply sociological theories about inter-racial and/or inter-ethnic conflict in order to formulate a personal perspective on race and ethnic relations in contemporary USA.
Instructions
In 2-3 single-spaced pages (1,000-1,500 words), reflect on the ways race is socially constructed and how intersectionality shapes individual and collective experiences. Consider how historical systems of oppression, particularly slavery, continue to impact social, economic, and political structures today. Your response should address the following questions and integrate evidence from the assigned readings, videos, and lecture videos in each portion of the assignment:
- How has race been constructed historically, and how does this construction continue to influence society?
- How does intersectionality help us understand the layered experiences of individuals who navigate multiple forms of oppression (e.g., race, gender, class, sexuality, disability)?
- How do these issues manifest in your own life, community, or society at large?