Critical Philosophy of Race
PHIL 211
Spring 2023
| Section:
01
|
| Crosslisting:
AFAM 211 |
| Course Cluster and Certificates: Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory Certificate |
This course starts with WEB Du Bois, not only because he is formative, but because like Hobbes's philosophy of law, he sets out many of the major themes of the course. We then explore "What is Race" through an understanding of social construction, what problems people of mixed races and non-Black/white races pose to metaphysical theories of race, and finally the relationship between the social construction of race and the "reality" of the biological differences in races. We look at the position--both for and against--that the goal of racial justice is "no longer seeing race," but also from the interesting perspective of those who literally don't "see" race: the blind. We look at the mini-topic of what the role of white people should be in racial justice. We then look at the first-person experience of being a racialized subject through Frantz Fanon and through Frank Wilderson's new book "Afro-Pessimism." We also look at sexual desire and its connection to race. The course ends with a timely look at the connection of race, criminalization, policing, and incarceration, as well as prison and police abolition. |
|
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS PHIL |
| Course Format: Lecture | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
|
Fulfills a Requirement for: (CBST-MN)(CSCT)(HRAD-MN)(PHIL)(PHIL-Social Jus)(STS) |
|
Past Enrollment Probability: 50% - 74% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
We will be reading selections from:
Charles Mills,
WEB Du Bois,
Chike Jeffers,
Lewis Gordon,
Alexis Shotwell,
Shannon Sullivan, Amia Srinivasan, Robin Zheng, Dorothy Roberts, Frank Wilderson, G5 Collective, Angela Davis, Beth Richie
|
Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly reading response, Midterm on ¿What is Race?¿, Critical Response, Class presentation, Final on Policing and Incarceration Unit |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
|
| Instructor(s): Velji,Muhammad Times: .M.W... 02:50PM-04:10PM; Location: SCIE339; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 25 | | SR major: 4 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: 6 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 4 | SO: 5 | FR: 4 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
|
|