Course Description
Course reevaluates the history we hear of American agriculture. Students will learn about the emergence of agriculture in the Americas, the contributions of diverse cultural groups, and the persistent inequities in land, labor, and resources. Students will participate in class discussions and propose strategies to advance equity going forward.
Athena Title
Recogn Multi Hist of Amer Ag
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
• Students will develop an understanding of the importance of diverse perspectives in agricultural spaces. Students will examine and interpret the impact of different cultural groups on U.S. agriculture. • Students will analyze data to think critically about the history of agricultural labor and how it relates to power, immigration, and the U.S. economy. • Students will examine data to compare land access, land retention, access to capital and incentive programs, and farmland ownership across diverse cultural groups in the U.S. • Students will identify and propose actions to advance equity within the food and agricultural sciences.
Topical Outline
1. Recognizing the Importance of More than One Perspective in Historical Storytelling 2. The Emergence of American Agricultural Ingenuity 3. Identifying Multicultural Contributions to American Agriculture – Historically and Today 3A. Indigenous Contributions to American Agriculture 3B. African American Contributions to American Agriculture 3C. Asian American Contributions to American Agriculture 3D. Latinx Contributions to American Agriculture 3E. European Contributions to American Agriculture 4. Cultivating a More Equal, Inclusive, and Just American Agriculture
Syllabus