Course Description: Interdisciplinary exploration of the development, meaning, and sociopolitical implications of "hybridity" in constructing racial, ethnic and gender identities in U.S. society. Status and experience of 'hybrid' people, e.g. 'biracial/multiracials', examined through synthesis of anthropology, arts, history, literature, sociology, ethnic and gender studies. 2 two-hour lecture/discussions.

Course Objectives: By completing the requirements of this course, you will be able, hopefully, to achieve the following goals:

Dominguez, Virginia. White By Definition: Social Classifications in Creole Louisiana. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers U Press, 1986)
DuBois, W.E.B. "The Concept of Race" in Dusk of Dawn: An Essay Toward an Autobiography of a Race Concept. (N.Y.: The Library of America, 1986)
Funderburg, Lise. Black, White, Other: Biracial Americans Talk About Race and Identity. (N.Y.: William Morrow & Co., 1994)
Herdt, Gilbert, ed. Third Sex, Third Gender. (N.Y.: Zone Books, 1994)
McBride, James. The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother. (N.Y.: Riverhead Books)

Nakashima, Cynthia L. & Teresa Williams-Leon, ed. The sum of Our Parts (Temple University Press, 2001)
Root, Maria P.P., ed. The Multiracial Experience. (Thousand Oaks, Ca.: Sage Publications, 1986)
Scales-Trent, Judy. Notes of a White Black Woman. (Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1995)
Spickard, Paul. Mixed Blood: Intermarriage and Ethnic Identity in Twentieth Century America. (Tuscon, AZ: U of Arizona Press, 1989)
Tizard, Barbara and Ann Phoenix, ed. Black, White or Mixed Race? Race and Racism in the Lives of Young People of Mixed Parentage. (N.Y.: Routledge, 1995)
Vizenor, Gerald. Crossbloods: Bone Courts, Bingo and Other Reports. (Minneapolis, MN: U of Minnesota Press, 1990)
Young, Robert. Colonial Desire: Hybridity in Theory, Culture and Race. (N.Y.: Routledge, 1995)
Zack, Naomi. Race and Mixed Race. (Philadelphia: Temple U Press, 1993)
Ed. American Mixed Race. (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 1995)

Student Responsibilities and Course Requirements:

I. ATTENDANCE: You are expected to attend class regularly and to participate in class activities and discussions on the assigned readings and course topics.

II. READING ASSIGNMENTS: You should complete the reading assignments by the week or day they are scheduled for discussion. Your ability to participate effectively in class requires that you keep up with the reading assignments. You are responsible for all material covered in the assigned readings.

III. RESPONSE PAPERS: Short one-page typed responses to assigned readings listed in the Schedule of Topics must be submitted weekly. These responses are expected to provide material for class discussions.

IV. WEBSITES: Click here for some websites related to our topic. You are required to visit these websites for information related to your research topic.

VI. PAPERS AND PRESENTATION: You will strengthen their understanding of the course topics and readings by (1)participating in a group research project and writing/presenting an extended report, (2) writing an extended autobiographical essay.

VII. FINAL EXAMINATION: A final examination will be given to test your ability to integrate, synthesize, critique and apply the knowledge you have gained during the quarter. You will be required to answer essay-type questions on material covered in the readings, films, lectures, and class discussions.

Evaluation Criteria: Excellent papers and exams will demonstrate a strong understanding of the course materials, and will reflect thoughtfulness, critical judgment, and creativity. The writing will be clear and coherent, and the material will be well organized. Papers will be carefully edited for grammatical and typing errors, style, and content. All sources of information and ideas used by the student will be adequately documented using footnotes or a bibliography, or a combination of these.

EWS 450 - MULTIRACIAL AND HYBRID IDENTITIES