Discussion - 2 hours. This course examines the relationship between racial power and the law. Contrary to the dominant legal paradigm which contends that racial subordination is a deviation from the liberal legal ideal, the Critical Race Theory movement views the U.S. legal apparatus as complicit in upholding white supremacy, capitalism and heteropatriarchy. We will begin the course by focusing on the origins of Critical Race Theory and its relationship to Critical Legal Studies. Throughout the semester, we will examine CRT's relationship with other radical legal movements, including Feminist Legal Theory and Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), as well as evaluating critiques of CRT from the right. Course materials will include case law and theory, in addition to some legal history. As part of the class, students will attend and participate in the Aoki Center Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00 PM, where a range of scholars will discuss their research.
Discussion - 3 hours. This course examines the relationship between racial power and the law through the lens of Critical Race Theory. As an intellectual movement that began in the late 20th century, Critical Race Theory has provided an oppositional perspective on race and racism that challenges traditional race discourses found in doctrinal and civil rights discussions. This seminar explores Critical Race Theory's contributions and limitations by examining its history, concepts, and applications to contemporary issues in law and society. Students will examine the role played by legal rules and doctrines in creating the conditions for persisting systems of racial subordination and privilege that shape people's lives. The seminar will also cover the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality and the ways in which law responds (or fails to respond) to discrimination along multiple dimensions of human identity. Special attention will be paid to contemporary theories of colorblindness and post-racialism and their roles in re-framing race and racism in the 21st century.
Graduation Requirements: May satisfy Advanced Writing Requirement with instructor's permission.
Graduation Requirements: Satisfies the Bias, Antiracism and Cultural-Competency requirement.
Final Assessment: Paper