Class meets in person in HH 306 on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 pm - 4:45 pm and live on Google Meet on Wednesday from 4:00 - 4:50 pm unless otherwise indicated. Assigned readings should be completed before class the day they are listed (since we'll discuss in class).

Note that UMD defines 1 credit hour as being equal to 3 hours of work. This is a 4 credit hour class, so in total you should expect to spend about 12 hours a week on this class. 4 hours are devoted to attending class, leaving 8 hours per week for reading, writing, etc. Please let me know if you find that you are spending significantly more time on this class than that. 

Week 1

• Tue Aug 26 :  [HH 306] First Day of Class. Introductions. What's In A Name? 

• Wed Aug 27 : [Google Meet] Read the Introduction of So You Want To Talk About Race (aka Talk About Race). Discuss. 

• Thur Aug 28 : [HH 306] Read Chapter 1 and 2 of Talk About Race. Discuss. What is a Personal Essay? 

  • Note that the Introduction and Chapters 1 and 2 are approximately 30 pages.

Week 2

• Tue Sept 2 : [HH 306] Read Chapter 3 of Talk About Race. Discuss. 

• Wed Sept 3 : [Google Meet] Read Chapter 4 of Talk about Race. Discuss.

• Thu Sept 4 : [HH 306] Read Chapter 5 and 6 of Talk About Race. Discuss. 

  • Note that Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6 are approximately 60 pages.

• Sun Sept 7 : Personal Essay #1 due by 11:59 pm. 

  • Here is your prompt : Discuss your personal experiences of race. What race do you consider yourself to be, and how has that factored into your life? What advantages or disadvantages come with being a member of your race? Have you experienced racism or prejudice due to being a member of your race? If so, and only if you are comfortable doing so, please discuss those experiences and the impact they have had on you. Have you had close friends or family of other races? If so, what races were they, and how did you perceive their race impacting their lives? What advantages or disadvantages did you perceive their race causing them? Did they experience racism or prejudice due to being a member of their race? If so, what impact do you believe that those experiences had on them, and did it have any impact on you? Finally, please remember that I will not share or discuss your essays in whole or in part with anyone in any form. I consider your essays to be both personal and private and will treat them as such. Make sure to review the guidelines for Personal Essays but in brief remember that you may not use AI in any way and you should have a minimum of 500 words. Make sure that the Google Doc with your essay is shared so that anyone with the link is an editor. If you aren't sure how to  do that, please watch the following very worthwhile 2 minute video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q6h1fYuYM4

Week 3

• Tue Sept 9 : Read Chapter 7 of Talk About Race. Discuss. 

• Wed Sept 10 : [Google Meet] Read Chapter 8 of Talk About Race. Discuss.

• Thur Sept 11 : Read Chapter 9, 10, and 11 of Talk About Race. Discuss.

  • Note that Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are approximately 65 pages.

Week 4

• Tue Sept 16 : Read Chapter 12 and 13 of Talk About Race. Discuss.

• Wed Sept 17 : [Google Meet] Read Chapter 14 of Talk About Race. Discuss

• Thur Sept 18 : Read Chapter 15 of Talk About Race. Discuss.

  • Note that Chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15 are approximately 50 pages.

• Sun Sept 21 : Personal Essay #2 due by 11:59. 

  • Here is your prompt : TBD

Week 5

Tue Sept 23 : 

Wed Sept 24 : [Google Meet]

Thur Sept 25 : 

Week 6

Tue Sept 30 : 

Wed Oct 1 : [Google Meet]

Thur Oct 2 : 

Week 7

Tue Oct 7 :

Wed Oct 8 :  [Google Meet]

Thur Oct 9 : 

Week 8

Tue Oct 14 : 

Wed Oct 15 : [Google Meet]

Thur Oct 16 : 

Week 9

Tue Oct 21  : 

Wed Oct 22 : [no class] There will however be an exercise to complete on your own by 5:00 pm

Thur Oct 23 : [no class] Fall Break

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Final Exam