Race and Class in America

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Through readings and discussion in this senior seminar, you will develop a better understanding of causes and consequences of race and class inequalities by looking at how racism and capitalism have shaped American history and society. We will explore how both capitalism and racism have evolved and how sociologists have understood the relationship between capitalism (and resulting class inequalities) and racism (and resulting racial inequalities). Among the historical periods we will look at our Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement era, and the current Black Lives Matter and abolitionist movement. Important topics that we will discuss are slavery, exploitation, discrimination, reparations, the carceral state, white privilege, racial resentment, public goods, immigration, genocide and settler colonialism.