Racial and ethnic identities remain an important part of how people view both themselves and others.  The purpose of this course is to review the literature regarding the role "race" and "minority status" plays in American politics and policy.  The first goal of this class will be to understand better what the concepts of race and ethnicity mean and how they affect various aspects of American society.  We will also spend time discussing the different circumstances of individual minority groups.  The course aims to examine and carefully analyze competing ideologies and several different strategies of minority empowerment.  The intent of the course is that this examination and analysis will not only enhance our understanding of these groups' increasingly significant political roles, but will illuminate important features of the U.S. political system as well.

LECTURE NOTES

Lecture 1
Lecture 2
Lecture 3
Lecture 4
Lecture 5
Lecture 6
Lecture 7
Lecture 8
Lecture 9
Lecture 10
Lecture 11
Lecture 12
Lecture 13 (catch up and Movie)
Lecture 14
Lecture 15