Course Description
An examination of the history of racial disparities within the
United States criminal justice system, especially as applied to
African Americans, how these disparities have evolved
historically, and why they persist into the 21st century.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to do extra readings and
write much more substantial papers than will be required of
undergraduate students. These will include a comprehensive
review of primary research applied towards a topic concerning
the racial disparities in crime and punishment, or a
demonstration of mastery through an applied project beyond the
requirements for undergraduate students, dependent upon
individual instructor requirements. Graduate student papers
and/or projects will be graded according to much higher
research and writing standards than the undergraduate
students.
Athena Title
The New Jim Crow
Undergraduate Pre or Corequisite
POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S or one course in AFAM or HIST
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions about the new Jim Crow system by gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how the history of law, criminal, and justice in the United States has been shaped by social and cultural attitudes toward slavery and race, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to apply appropriate methodological approaches to their analysis of primary sources and to organize their evidence to show historical continuities and discontinuities.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to generate their own research question or topic, locate suitable primary and secondary sources, and synthesize their ideas in novel ways.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate their independent research projects in stages and to give and receive constructive feedback through the peer review process.
Topical Outline
- I. Slavery and the origins of American capitalism
- II. Racial differences codified in the law
- III. The end of slavery and the origins of “Jim Crow”
- IV. The convict-lease system: Slavery by another name
- V. Using the law to enforce America’s racial code: the Story of Jack Johnson
- VI. Using the “red scare” to silence black radicals: Paul Robeson and W.E.B. Du Bois
- VII. The FBI’s war against black America and the civil rights movement
- VIII. “Law and Order”: The Nixon era
- IX. The black militant response: The Black Panther Party and the Deacons for Defense
- X. Profiles: George Jackson (Soledad Brother) and Geronimo Pratt
- XI. Profiles: The Central Park Five and Kalief Browder
- XII. “When you’re white, you’re right”: The “affluenza” defense
- XIII. The era of mass incarceration: “doing anything” while black (slide show)
- XIV. Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative
- XV. The resurgence of white nationalism and the presidency of Donald Trump
- XVI. From vilification to vindication and redemption: a personal story
