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Race and Cultural Diversity in American Life and History
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 8 hours
  • Course by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Offered by

About

Learners will deepen their understanding and appreciation of ways in which race, ethnicity and cultural diversity have shaped American institutions, ideology, law, and social relationships from the colonial era to the present. Race and ethnicity are ideological and cultural categories that include all groups and individuals. Hence, this course is designed in significant part to take a broad look at the ideology of race and cultural diversity in America’s past and present. The primary focus is on the historical and social relationships among European Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, Latino/as, and Asian/Pacific Americans. Issues of race and ethnicity are examined across different ethno-cultural traditions in order to interweave diverse experiences into a larger synthesis of the meaning of race and ethnicity in American life. In this course, we conceive of “race” and “diversity” as references to the entire American population, even as we recognize that different groups have unique historical experiences resulting in distinctive and even fundamental cultural differences. We treat race and ethnicity as dynamic, complex ideological and cultural processes that shape all social institutions, belief systems, inter-group relationships, and individual experiences.

Modules

Cultural Identity Self-Reflection

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Cultural Identity Self-Reflection

6 Videos

  • 1.1 Introducing the Key Concepts and Social Challenges
  • 1.2 Exploring Attitudes to Race and Identity
  • 1.3 What Is Race?
  • 1.4 Race and American Identity
  • 1.5 Fear of Multiethnic Democracy
  • 1.6 Social and Economic Benefits of a Diverse Democracy

1 Readings

  • Supplementary Readings and Videos

Annotated Resource Listing

    • 9 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Annotated Resource Listing

9 Videos

  • 2.1 Race: The Power of an Illusion
  • 2.2 Race in the Foundation of American Society
  • 2.3 Slavery as an Economic and Political System, and its Abolition
  • 2.4 Racial Exclusion for Asians and Native Americans
  • 2.5 Revisiting “Race” as a Socio-historical Construction
  • 2.6 Race and Immigration
  • 2.7 Practices of Racial Subordination
  • 2.8 Laws and Customs Based on Race
  • 2.9 Past Is Prologue

1 Readings

  • Further Reading

Research Project Proposal

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Research Project Proposal

6 Videos

  • 3.1 Progress and Contestation
  • 3.2 How Race Is Lived in America (1)
  • 3.3 How Race Is Lived in America (2)
  • 3.4 Geographical Segregation Today
  • 3.5 Implicit Racial Bias
  • 3.6 Facing the Future

1 Readings

  • Supplementary Resources: How Race is Lived in America

Research Project

    • 5 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 PeerReview
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1 Peer Review

  • Peer Reviewed Project

5 Videos

  • 4.1 Institutional Racism
  • 4.2 Social Disparities of Race and Ethnicity
  • 4.3 Identifying Discrimination in Everyday Social Practice
  • 4.4 Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Wealth and Income
  • 4.5 Inequalities in Education and Housing

1 Readings

  • Supplementary Resources: Institutional Racism

2020 Update

    • 2 Readings
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2 Readings

  • Video Update, 2020
  • Additional References and Links

Auto Summary

"Race and Cultural Diversity in American Life and History" is a foundational Coursera course in Personal Development, led by expert instructors. It explores the profound impact of race, ethnicity, and cultural diversity on American institutions, laws, and social relationships from the colonial era to today. The course interweaves the experiences of European Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, Latino/as, and Asian/Pacific Americans to provide a comprehensive understanding of race and ethnicity in America. Lasting 480 minutes, it's available through Starter and Professional subscription plans, ideal for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of America's diverse cultural landscape.

James D. Anderson
Instructors

James D. Anderson

Yoon Pak
Instructors

Yoon Pak