Week 13: Race, Crime, Law

Week of April 28, 2019

Topics:  The Color of Justice & the Future

          To stay on track, 1) you should be finishing your visual project’s overall learning assessment,and proofreading. 2) If you are still missing discussion questions/sets after our second meeting, resolve ASAP before it turns into an F.

Dates to Remember:

— Monday, May 6th, the beginning of class – Visual Project’s Overall Learning Assessment due

— Monday, May 13th – The Last Day of Spring Classes  

Preparatory Readings:

• Richard Delgado & Jean Stefancic. The Derrick Bell Reader . — Ch. 15.
• Gordon Fellman. Rambo and the Dalai Lama. — entirety
• Samuel Walker and others. The Color of Justice. — Ch. 11.
• Documentary: “Latino Americans” (to be shown in class)

Lecture related links:

• • • Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
    • Sticks and Stones — Labelling Matters
    • W.I. Thomas “Definition of the Situation

Concepts to be covered:

• • • theory, policy, practice
    • illocutionary discourse
    • aesthetics of answerability
    • the Other
    • difference
    • critical race theory
    • adversarialism v. mutuality
    • institutional discrimination
    • contextual discrimination

Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to do the assigned readings. Due: Wednesday, May 1st. 

• • 1. On page 513, Walker et al state: “We believe that based on a fair assessment of the evidence we can confidently conclude that the criminal justice system is characterized by disparities based on race and ethnicity. It is impossible to ignore the disproportionate number of people of color arrested, imprisoned and on death row.”  How would Bell and Fellman respond to this quote? Why. 
    2. How would Fellman, Walker and Bell assess the future of American race and ethnic relations? Which author do you agree with the most? Why.

Suggestions for Related Class Activities:

• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. An excellent resource for juvenile justice related issues.
• National Criminal Justice Resource Service. Administered by the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
• Examine present trends of race relations in America. Are things getting better or worse? Why.
• Explore:
  • the history of the Latino/a American
  • The Brown Beret
  • Cesar Chavez
  • Reies Tijerina
  • immigration 

 Recommended Readings:

— Rudolfo Acuna. Occupied America.

— Armando Rendon. The Chicano Manifesto.

— Rudolfo Anaya. Bless Me, Ultima.

— Sandra Cisneros. The House on Mango Street.

— Luis Rodriguez. Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A.

— Danny Santiago. Famous All Over Town. 

• Paulo Freire. Pedagogy of the Oppressed.
• Alfie Kohn. No Contest. The Case Against Competition.
• Desmond Tutu. No Future Without Forgiveness.
• Jurgen Habermas. Between Facts and Norms.
• Martha Minow. Making All the Difference: Exclusion, Inclusion and American Law. Check out this link Martha Minow on the Dear Habermas site.

 

takata@uwp.edu

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Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: April 25, 2019