In Storytelling for Social Justice, Lee Anne Bell writes, “The diverse groups that make up the United States provide a rich source of stories to draw upon, but in a deeply racialized society stained by structural racism, not all stories are equally acknowledged, valued, or affirmed…Some stories are supported by the power structure, while others must fight tenaciously to be heard.” Bell's words imply two meanings of “telling stories”: by telling and being open to many different stories we can expand our understanding of what it means to live in this country; but also, stories themselves “tell” or reveal a deeper understanding of how power shapes narratives around race. In this course on writing and rhetoric you will examine an array of stories that shed light on race and ethnicity, applying a set of critical perspectives to look beyond the surface of the stories apparent in all sorts of texts, including film, television, speeches, fiction, poetry, photographs, art, comedy, and music. Writing for this class includes a personal journal in which you track your responses and the development of your ideas, an end of semester reflection, and three papers examining the ways different stories “tell” us something about which “stories are supported,” and why and how others “must fight tenaciously to be heard.”

Intended Audience:

Participants in Lloyd Scholars for Writing and the Arts. Non-LSWA students welcome and may request permission to enroll pending availability. Contact LSWA@umich.edu.

Class Format:

Twice weekly class meetings will be held synchronously via Zoom, with an emphasis on discussion and collaborative activities. Required reading and writing assignments will be completed asynchronously via Canvas. We will also make use of tools such as Google docs for collaborative and interactive activities. No exams. Weekly reflective writing assignments and three analytical essays will be completed and submitted asynchronously.