Race and Ethnicity in Twentieth Century America

This course will examine America through its cultural and racial diversity, comparing and contrasting the historical experiences of African Americans, Latina/os, European Americans, and Asian Americans over the "long" twentieth century. Together we will investigate the ways in which major events and episodes in the century affected a variety of racialized populations, and how these groups responded to their social and political environment. Attention will also be paid to changes in "American" national identity and citizenship over time, helping students think about such questions as: who is an "American"? And how did that definition change over time? How did debates over citizenship reflect Americans' ideas of race, class, ethnicity, and gender? How were racial and ethnic minorities, women, and immigrants defined at various times in opposition to Americanness?