In 1903 W.E.B. Du Bois famously wrote in The Souls of Black Folk that, “the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line.” This course asks you to consider whether or not this twentieth century problem is still a twenty-first century problem, and if so, how. Is the twenty-first century color line similar to or different from the twentieth century problem Du Bois described? This course asks you to answer this question for yourself. You can expect to have in-depth conversations about the social, cultural, and political significance of race in America. Since this is an English course, we’ll pay particular attention to how these themes are explored in literature. Course work will include active reading, discussion, and four essays.