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California State University, Dominguez Hills
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Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: February 12, 2009
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

CRMJ/SOCA 352 Law and Social Change

You will be held accountable for the readings and discussion questions listed here. There will be no "testing." That means that you will not have to live in anxious anticipation of what we will ask and how much you will have to know. Instead, we will provide weekly discussion questions, lectures, essays, and concepts we feel that you should know as a result of having taken this course. You will assure us of that learning and receive your grade for the questions and concepts about which you choose to write and talk with us. In addition you will find detailed explanations and examples on our grading policies in the first week's reading.

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Week 5: Week of February 15, 2009

Sign up for your midterm meeting. Sign up sheet will be available on Monday. Midterm meetings begin on February 25th.

Topic: Critical Race Theory/American Indians

Preparatory Readings

• Arrigo. Social Justice/Criminal Justice. Chapter 9 .
• Mann, Zatz & Rodriguez. Images of Color, Images of Crime. Chapters 1 & 6 .
• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
  
  
• Documentary: "Incident at Oglala (to be shown in class)
  
• Curran and Takata. Sociology of Law Handbook
  -- Introduction
  -- Chapter 1, part 1
  -- Chapter 1, part 2
  -- Chapter 2

Lecture related links:



• Metaphor and Theory links to "The Blind Men and the Elephant" which applies to several concepts discussed in both classes. Eric K. mentioned this metaphor during one of our class discussions in "Law and Society."
• "My Role in Social Change" Poem by LaTricia White (Spring 2004)
  
• "They Ain't Us: Identity as an Anti-Norm"
  
• "Who's Habermas? Why Habermas?"
• Those Infamous Grades and Letters of Recommendation
• "The Case Against Gold Stars" by Alfie Kohn.
  
  

Concepts to be covered:



• American Indian v. Native American
• the reservation Indian v. the urban Indian
• Wounded Knee
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
• American Indian Movement (AIM)
• critical race theory (CRT)
• critical legal theory (CLS)
• interracial crime
• racial hoaxes



Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to view "Incident at Oglala" to be shown in class.

1. Think about your own view of what you have been taught about Indians. Did this reading prompt you to consider any views you have held about Indians? If so, how? (MZR, p. 30, Q.2).

2. What are some factors that led to a change in attitude toward Indians? Was the change lasting or substantial? Explain. (MZR, p. 30, Q.5).

3. How were stereotypes incorporated into the media's coverage of law suits and legislation? (MZR, p. 76, Q.3) .

4. Briefly list the strengths and weaknesses of critical race theory as they relate to this week's readings on American Indians?

5. Select one issue in criminal justice dealing with the American Indian and state how critical race analysis would be useful. Why?




Self-Assessment Questions for Visual Projects:




1. List the names of the individuals in your group. What did you do exactly for this visual project? (If in a group, explain the division of labor and your individual contribution to this visual project). What small item did you create to "give away" to those visiting your visual project?
2. Explain in depth, how your visual project specifically relates to the course (i.e., the readings, the documentaries, class discussions, major concepts). Demonstrate how your visual project relates to "theory, policy, practice". What did you learn?
3. Assess how the 6Cs apply to your visual project, with special attention on competence and creativity. What is your visual project self-assessment (provide a letter grade) ___ ? Explain why this particular grade.

Readings for All UWP Classes:

Suggested Visual Projects:




Note: Start thinking about ideas for your creative measures. Must relate to "law and social change." Must be approved before starting your creative measure. Cannot be something that you are doing or have done for another course. Research cannot be 100% online (i.e., google, askjeeves). Must conduct library research using scholarly works, (not the popular press -- Time Magazine, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated). You will need to submit a bibliography with each project. No term papers! Allow time to dialogue and present your creative measure in class. Email me your ideas ASAP!



• Read one of the recommended books listed below on the American Indian. Do a visual book review.
• Examine how stereotypes and the stereotyping of the American Indian has changed from the past to present day.
• Compare and contrast the life experiences of the reservation Indian and the urban Indian.
• Trace either prime time television or movie images of the American Indian from past to present.
• Examine the legal case of Leonard Peltier, Dennis Banks or other American Indian leaders.
• Examine the controversy behind American Indian mascots and logos.
• Research the development and proliferation of Indian gaming casinos. Has that helped or hurt today's American Indians.
• Explore the Indian gaming and fishing rights and treaties in the State of Wisconsin.
• Trace the creation and development of AIM.



Recommended Readings:



• Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
• Dee Brown. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
• Mary Crow Dog. Lakota Woman.
• Nancy Lurie. Mountain Wolf Woman.
• Paula Gunn Allen. The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Culture.
• Gregory Michno. Lakota Noon: The Indian Narrative of Custer's Defeat.
  

  --- Jurgen Habermas. Between Facts and Norms.
  --- Martha Minow. Making All the Difference: Exclusion, Inclusion and American Law. Check out this link Martha Minow on the Dear Habermas site.

  
  
  

Course Syllabus for CRMJ/SOCA 352 "Law and Social Change"

takata@uwp.edu