Theme 6 FIG Courses

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Race, Inequality, & Social Justice: Because Black Lives Matter

This FIG pairing will discuss the various forms of racism, discrimination, and movements for social justice within the Black American community. These thought-provoking courses will draw from a variety of interesting readings, historical perspectives, narratives, multimedia, and popular culture to discuss structural inequalities through an intersectional and student-centered lens. Some course topics include family, education, politics, housing, environment, legal, immigration, health, and work. Students will have the opportunity to pair current day happenings with important historical events and use their creativity to design new ideas for social change. These courses will provide students with an appreciation for issues facing Black people in America and highlight the strengths of the culture.

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AFS 205, Section 01
Introduction to Hip Hop

Day/Time: M/W 10:00 am-11:15 am
Instructor: T. J. Robinson

About this Course

Hip Hop, the music and lifestyle, is rooted in African American urban life in the mid to late 70’s on the streets and in the playgrounds of New York City. This course will critically explore the evolution of Hip Hop as a socio-cultural political movement. Aspects of identity, aesthetics, race relations, gender politics and struggles for social justice will be examined as it relates to the impact of Hip Hop on Urban societies. Urban lifestyles and political activism in the Hip Hop generation will be discussed in an effort to identify Hip Hop as a means to redefine social responsibility and an urban political agenda in an effort to empower urban youth.

Theme: Healing Communities: Black & Brown Solidarity

UNV 101, Section 21
Personal, Social, and Intellectual Development (First Year Seminar)

Day/Time: T/Th 1:00 pm-2:15 pm
Room: WH C150
Instructor: Joanna Perez

About this Course

Let’s make the world a better place...together. Black and Brown communities are deeply impacted by structural inequality. Using an intersectional lens that accounts for race, class, gender, sexuality, immigration status, and other social identities, this course will discuss various social issues that impact Black and Brown communities. Drawing on historical, theoretical, cultural, narrative, and multimedia materials, students will analyze how the struggles of Black and Brown communities are interlinked. Ultimately, students will gain a critical understanding of the ways that Black and Brown solidarity, activism, and community healing have the power to alter their social conditions and create social change.