Race and Nation in the U.S.: Belonging, Longing, and Resistance

This course examines how representations of race continue to be critical to the formation of the American nation. We will look at cultural and historical texts that grapple with how “race” is used to (1) define who does and does not belong to the U.S., (2) configure feelings of longing for a homeland, and (3) resist dominant narratives of national inclusion through visual art, performance, and stand-up comedy. The course will use Middle Eastern Americans as its primary case study of these larger themes, and will also incorporate many readings that touch on African American and Latinx experiences.