Students will explore questions such as: What are the historical circumstances that have shaped Arab immigration to the U.S.? Where do Arab Americans “fit” within the U.S.' racial classification system? What is anti-Arab racism? How has it shifted throughout Arab American history? How did September 11th impact Arab American communities? What are the cultural forms that Arab immigrants have inherited from their homelands and reproduced in the U.S.? What is the relationship between socioeconomic class and cultural identity among Arab Americans? How have Arab Americans used the arts for cultural and political expression? What is the significance of religious affiliation to Arab American identity formation? How has U.S. foreign policy impacted Arab American histories and experiences? This course explores questions such as these in an interdisciplinary context, focusing on anthropological, historical & literary materials.
Course Requirements:
- Short writing assignments, midterm exam, final group project.
- Active discussion in class:
Students must demonstrate that they have engaged in the readings, participate in group exercises, and meet with the instructor at least one time during office hours.
All assignments will be completed asynchronously. Students will need full access to Canvas and Zoom.Intended Audience:
First-year students and sophomores, plus any student interested in Arab-American studies.
Class Format:
The weekly lectures for this course will be recorded and available for asynchronous access. Weekly discussion sections will alternate between asynchronous online discussion posts and synchronous video conference conversations.