RACE AND THE LAW: HOW LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS HAVE PERPETUATED RACISM AND SUPPORTED PROGRESS

Credit Hour: 1 · Undergraduate Upper-Level

This course is intended to introduce students to legal frameworks of analysis and sources of law pertaining to issues of racial equality. We will focus on questions such as: How has law been used to perpetuate inequality? How has law made it more difficult to achieve reforms to advance equality? How have law and legal institutions helped advance racial equality and justice? Some of the areas of focus include land use policy and segregation, criminal justice, education, environmental disparities and voting. Readings will include both secondary sources (books, scholarly pieces and popular media) and legal materials (primarily Supreme Court decisions).