Race, Justice, and Democracy

This course offers an intensive exploration of the philosophical, political, and cultural dimensions of racial justice in the United States. Moving between theory and lived experience, students will analyze how race and gender shape modern democracy, institutional power, and cultural imagination. Through close readings of influential thinkers such as John Rawls, Tommie Shelby, Charles Mills, and Toni Morrison, the course interrogates liberalism’s promises and failures, asking what justice demands in societies built on racial inequality. Designed for motivated students seeking intellectual depth, the course blends political theory, philosophy, and Black feminist thought with interpretive work in literature and film. Weekly modules combine guided lectures, analytical writing, and discussion forums that encourage students to synthesize ideas across disciplines and historical contexts. By the end of the term, students will be able to articulate sophisticated arguments about race, democracy, and moral responsibility,