“students will write a critical analysis of how societies can remedy one of these forms of injustice. This is not a book report; you are writing a critical analysis of contemporary manifestations of injustice and how various theories help us understand better 1) how the injustice came to be, 2) how the injustice has been maintained, 3) why they have persisted, and 4) how societies can remedy them.
Notes for all paper topics:
You must use all the primary source material assigned for each paper. You may only use outside sources to provide supporting evidence and discuss contemporary injustices. For example, if you are writing about economic injustice, you can cite data/statistics from the Department of Labor or reputable mainstream news articles. As discussed in the course policies, you will receive an F if you plagiarize from any external sources or use AI to write any portion of the paper. ”
For critical race theory, this includes but is not limited to discussions of critical race theory (defined), white supremacy (as an ideology), the origins of white supremacy, racialization, structural racism, color-blind racism (all forms), racial realism, racial stupidity, interest convergence, and anti-racism.
Racial justice papers meaningfully discuss how racial issues intersect with other factors such as class and gender.
Application and Critical Thinking
The paper does an excellent job of analyzing and applying concepts to modern social institutions.
There are ample contemporary examples to support the paper’s central thesis and highlight key terms. Reputable outside sources from the library databases or mainstream news sources are used to support claims and provide modern-day examples.
Praxis and Solutions
The paper does an excellent job of connecting theory and praxis.
The paper offers concrete and thoughtful solutions that demonstrate critical thinking. Solutions are not a pithy/terse paragraph at the end of the essay. Solutions are realistic and not platitudes (e.g., racism will end if we all learn to love one another). Solutions reflect and are tied to the specific analysis in the essay.
Presentation and Care
The paper is presented with care and was sufficiently proofread.
The essay is relatively free of grammatical errors, and it is clear that the student spent time editing and proofreading the paper before submission. This is a representation of the student’s best effort.
Racial Justice
Discuss the relevance of critical race theory for understanding contemporary race relations, racism, and how white supremacist ideologies and racism shape the modern world.
This is a persuasive essay, not a book report. The purpose of this essay is to make an evaluation. You must have a clear thesis that makes an argument regarding the usefulness of critical race theory and various concepts presented therein for understanding our world and how to achieve racial justice.
Required Sources: Students must use all eight sources below, plus any outside sources they deem appropriate to provide supporting evidence. Students are encouraged to use and cite any handouts provided in class.
Bell, Derrick. 1992. “Racial Realism.” Connecticut Law Review, 24, 2, pp: 363-379.
Blair, Imani . 2021. Read This to Get Smarter Abot Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More, by pgs. 96-108.
Bonilla-Silva, Eduardo. 2017. Racism Without Racists: Color-blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America. Rowman & Littlefield. 4th edition, chapter 3, “The Central Frames of Color-blind Racism,”pgs. 73-100
Collins, Patricia Hill. 1991. “The Politics of Black Feminist Thought.” in Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. New York: Routledge, pgs. 3-18
Crenshaw, Kimberele. 1991. “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color.” Stanford Law Review, Vol. 43, No. 6, pp. 1241-1299.
DuBois, W.E.B. 1994 [1903]. “Of Our Spiritual Strivings.” The Souls Of Black Folk. New York: Dover, pgs. 1-7.
Nash, Christine. 2019. “Intersectionality: An Intellectual History.” In Black Feminism Reimagined After Intersectionality. Durham: Duke University Press, pgs., 6-11
Ray, Victor. On Critical Race Theory (students can cite and use any content in the book).
(Outline below)
I: Title: Creative Title (*Your paper’s title should not say midterm paper, lol. Your title should be
creative and give the reader a good idea about the subject matter).
II: Introduction
1. Thesis: What is my main argument? What institution(s) will I use critical race theory to
analyze and why?
2. Solutions: What anti-racist solutions do I propose for my analysis?
III: Overview of Critical Race Theory
1. Summarize critical race theory.
2. What sources will I use in my summary?
3. What concepts from this unit are well-suited to my thesis and analysis? (e.g., race,
racialization, colorblind-racism, racial realism, anti-racism, etc).
Now, what comes next in this paper will depend on your approach.
Approach 1: Focus on one institution throughout, such as K-12 education. You could analyze
how racist ideologies and practices are embedded in the criminal legal system, with different
sections focusing on policing, courts, and corrections. You could analyze racism and media, with
sections focusing on TV, films, music, and so on. Again, this approach could apply to any
institution, such as work/economy, government (etc., which works well with the data handouts
from class).
