Scribner Seminar Program
Course Description
Race in the Obama Era: Building Community through Cross-Racial Dialogue
Instructor(s): Kristie Ford, Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
An intergroup dialogue on race. How do people of different racial identities experience race in the U.S.? What does interpersonal and institutional racism look like in the 21stcentury? With the election of President Obama, is it possible (or even ideal) to achieve a post-racial society? And, how do we move beyond politically correct discourse to meaningful cross-racial dialogue? In this course, students participate in semi-structured face-to-face meetings across racial identity groups. Through relevant historical, sociological, and psychological reading materials, interactive activities, in-class dialogues, and self-reflective journal assignments, students learn about pertinent issues facing different races on campus and in U.S. society. The goal is to create a setting in which students engage in open and constructive dialogue by exploring issues of inter-/intra-group relations, conflict, and social change.
Course Offered