The State of Race in 21st Century America

Though some commentators would argue to the contrary, American society in the Obama and post-Obama era is not “beyond race.” In fact, the present century has shaped up to be complex concerning what was known in a bygone era as “race relations.” The shooting of African-American Trayvon Martin, the proposed building of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico and fraught discussions over immigration, and the protests over Confederate flags and statues in many Southern cities are issues that have sparked debates, protests and other forms of activism concerning the status of black and brown people in America. For some, the present moment has shades of the 1960s, when national actors took to the streets to remake the American establishment and to foster social change. Driven by questions concerning “belonging” in American society, and through a close examination of original materials from personal manifestos to films and documentaries, this seminar will explore the cultural and political meaning of these moments from a variety of actor perspectives, including immigrant activists, Black Lives Matter proponents, politicians, law enforcement and first responders, and ordinary citizens