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Race in America, Then and Now
Many people in the U.S. and around the world have seen the election of President Barack Obama as a sign that racism in America is a thing of the past. America, it is said, is now a post-racial society, and has moved beyond a racially divided time. Yet that past was not very long ago. Obamas election came within the lifetimes of people who... read more
Many people in the U.S. and around the world have seen the election of President Barack Obama as a sign that racism in America is a thing of the past. America, it is said, is now a post-racial society, and has moved beyond a racially divided time. Yet that past was not very long ago. Obamas election came within the lifetimes of people whose parents were born into slavery in America, and he was elected President less than fifty years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Even after these landmark pieces of legislation became law, in the 1960s many communities of color struggled to find justice and equality in the United States. This program explores that eras struggles as well as current movements for equality, and dares to ask questions about racial justice in America today. During the one-month program, students meet with civil rights activists who were active in the 1960s and those who are active now, and with lawyers, politicians, educators, and youth to learn about how Americas present is inextricably linked to its past. Field experiences open up connections among issues related to education, incarceration, distribution of wealth, health care, housing, employment, and the environment. Students also delve into racial identity development theory, the philosophy of nonviolence, and how social movements function. By the end of the month, students have a profound understanding of the Civil Rights Movementits motivations, strategies, successes and failuresand they have also developed ways to make meaningful contributions to their own communities.
Central Questions
* Does race and racism continue to play a role in American society?
* In what ways has America moved forward since the Civil Rights Movement?
* How can students take an active role in furthering the cause for racial justice in America? Less
