Overview

This module introduces students to the concept of 'race' from an historical-contemporary analysis. The module gives the students a comprehensive sociological, political and historical foundation to understanding ideologies of power and racism and to understanding some of the issues and debates.

The module may include, but will not be limited to the following:

• What is Race? Exploring the race mythologies to the lived realities of difference. This workshop will also explore the importance of culture, heritage, identity and belonging. This workshop will explore issues of race today, looking at Britain in particular, but also at America and Europe.

• Theories of Racism - Introducing some key sociological theories of Racism, such as Intersectionality – exploring how identities are used within power structures and discourses to explain discrimination, inequality and disadvantage.

• Hidden histories – imperialism, slavery and the enlightenment; examining historical perceptions of race, ethnicity and diversity.

• Part 1 - The ‘White curriculum’ - exploring the representation of diversity within education, the media and cultural narratives of imperial

• power and the Eurocentric knowledge of today – an historical – contemporary analysis.

• Part 2 - News article writing workshop.

• The politics of difference – exploring apartheid and the ideologies of supremacy (North America, South Africa and German Nazi ideology).

• Institutional racism – Race Relation Act, Stephen Lawrence, The Windrush scandal.

• Civil Right Movements, past and present (Black Lives Matter and #Rhodesmustfall). Examining the purpose, power and effect of social movements.

• Towards a multicultural society – Globalization and its discontents. Exploring the politics of national identities, ethnicity and culture and the social construction of imagined identities.

• The backlash – ‘Has political correctness gone mad?’ Discussing the politics of offence, cultural appropriation and the negotiation of language and identity.

• Environmental Racism

• Racism Today – Borders and identities. Exploring whether Muslims are the ‘new black’ (S.L Jackson 2016). Exploring the rise of antisemitism, xenophobia and far-right ideologies across Europe and America.

• Racial equality – towards a fairer future. Exploring modern historical movements, developments and political changes (Social Movements, boycotts, European Convention on Human Rights, Civil Liberties and equal opportunities and the push for racial equality).

• Module overview and essay advice session

This module introduces students to the concept of 'race' from an historical-contemporary analysis. The module runs over Semester Two, giving students a comprehensive sociological, political and historical foundation to understanding ideologies of power and racism and to understanding some of the issues and debates.

The module may include, but will not be limited to the following:

• What is Race? Exploring the race mythologies to the lived realities of difference. This workshop will also explore the importance of culture, heritage, identity and belonging. This workshop will explore issues of race today, looking at Britain in particular, but also at America and Europe.

• Theories of Racism - Introducing some key sociological theories of Racism, such as Intersectionality – exploring how identities are used within power structures and discourses to explain discrimination, inequality and disadvantage.

• Hidden histories – imperialism, slavery and the enlightenment; examining historical perceptions of race, ethnicity and diversity.

• Part 1 - The ‘White curriculum’ - exploring the representation of diversity within education, the media and cultural narratives of imperial

• power and the Eurocentric knowledge of today – an historical – contemporary analysis.

• Part 2 - News article writing workshop.

• The politics of difference – exploring apartheid and the ideologies of supremacy (North America, South Africa and German Nazi ideology).

• Institutional racism – Race Relation Act, Stephen Lawrence, The Windrush scandal.

• Civil Right Movements, past and present (Black Lives Matter and #Rhodesmustfall). Examining the purpose, power and effect of social movements.

• Towards a multicultural society – Globalization and its discontents. Exploring the politics of national identities, ethnicity and culture and the social construction of imagined identities.

• Environmental Racism

• The backlash – ‘Has political correctness gone mad?’ Discussing the politics of offence, cultural appropriation and the negotiation of language and identity.

• Racism Today – Borders and identities. Exploring whether Muslims are the ‘new black’ (S.L Jackson 2016). Exploring the rise of antisemitism, xenophobia and far-right ideologies across Europe and America.

• Racial equality – towards a fairer future. Exploring modern historical movements, developments and political changes (Social Movements, boycotts, European Convention on Human Rights, Civil Liberties and equal opportunities and the push for racial equality).

• Module overview and essay advice session

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Threshold = D- to D+. Students will demonstrate a very basic understanding of the topic and will have only done a minimum of reading and research, relying too heavily on basic text books and lecture notes and poor sources. their work will be lacking critical or analytical analysis, and contextual understanding and structure and coherence is likely to be weak.Students in the higher band of C- to C+ must demonstrate some ability to critically evaluate academic text; demonstrate some historical understanding; show the ability to engage with the topic in a factual, evidence-based way; presenting their work logically and clearly.

-good -Good = B- to B+. Students must demonstrate the ability to examine and evaluate a range of academic texts; demonstrate an understanding of race and racism within a historical context; to demonstrate the ability to summarize some of the main theoretical perspectives; to present their work in a logical, evidenced-based and clear manner.

-excellent -Excellent = A- to A*. Students must demonstrate the ability to examine and critically evaluate a wide range of academic texts; demonstrate a historically contextual understanding of race and racism; show a clear understanding of key theoretical perspectives; present their arguments in a logical, evidence-based and well communicated manner.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the key sociological theories and of racism and identity.

• Demonstrate a mature contextual understanding of events and attitudes in terms of historical context.

• Demonstrate an analytical critical understanding of concepts such as ‘race’ and ‘ethnicity’ .

• Demonstrate the ability to identify a range of key texts on race, identity and political ideology.