Unit 3: Humility and Boldness: Developing Racial Literacy to Expand American Democracy

In this unit, we will apply all that we have learned about the nature of power and obligations of those in a democracy and apply them specifically to the history and evolution of race relations in this country. Through the frameworks of psychology and sociology as presented by Dr. Beverly Tatum and Dr. Allan Johnson, we will develop racial literacy by exploring the history and evolution of race relations in this country. In doing so, we will highlight the multi-faceted perspectives of White people and People of Color. Additionally, we will analyze how ideologies, such as white supremacy, have influenced racial inequality and shaped our social and individual identities. By engaging in honest and direct cross-cultural dialogue, the goal is to reimagine possibilities to counteract racial injustice and promote racial justice.

Racial Identity Workshops

In these workshops, we explore the developmental process of identity. We then focus our attention on the creation of a personal racial identity and how it affects our experiences and perceptions of how race operates in the larger society. Readings and conversations reveal how racism functions both consciously and unconsciously as students develop their own racial identity and seek understanding of how to create honest, cross-cultural dialogue to counteract racial inequality.

Ethnic Studies Workshops

Students will explore issues of marginalization among certain ethnic groups in the United States. The foundation of each workshop is a historical analysis of each group’s exclusion from American Society. Common themes that run throughout each of the workshops are immigration, language, citizenship, stereotypes, and identity.