Racial and Ethnic Politics in the Obama Era

3 Credits

This course seeks to understand the meaning and significance of Barack Obama as the first African American president. The course examines the extent to which the United States of America has entered into a post-racial society. We also examine the policy challenges Obama has faced as the first African American president. One example is the passing of comprehensive health care reform. We discuss whether opposition to health care is driven by people's racial attitudes or their different views about the role of government. Others topics that the course will examine are: how Obama became the first African American president; the strategies his campaign used to motivate citizens to the voting booth; the public's reaction to Obama's election; racial group identity during the Obama era; Trump's victory as a response to Obama.