CES 151:
Introduction to
Chicano/a Studies
Department
of Comparative Ethnic Studies
Tuesdays
& Thursdays
CUE
407
Fall 2004
Professor: José
Alamillo
E-mail:
Office:
Office
Hours:
Fridays,
“The Gringo, locked into the fiction of white
superiority, seized complete political power, stripping Indians ad Mexicans of
their land while their feet were still rooted in it. Con el destierro y el
exilio fuimos desuñados, destroncados, destripados—we were jerked out by
the roots, truncated, disemboweled, disposed, and separated from our identity
and history.”---Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La
Frontera
Historically, full membership and
representation in higher education has not been presented to a diversity of
groups like Chicanos and Chicanas. For this ethnic group admission and
representation in higher education, despite many gains, remains generally
inadequate. This course represents an effort to overcome that limitation.
Drawing on a wide variety of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities
this course addresses the historical and contemporary experience of Chicanos
and Chicanas within the
COURSE
OBJECTIVES
●How the experiences of
Chicanos/as in the
●Examination of the heterogeneity
and diversity within the Chicano/a community
● Understanding of Chicano/a
identity through the ongoing cultural process of mestizaje in historical and contemporary contexts.
● To examine solutions to social
injustices and discrimination against Chicano/as.
COURSE
TEXTBOOKS:
1.
Erasmo
Gamboa, Mexican Labor & World War II: Braceros in the Pacific Northwest,
1942-1947 (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1990)
2.
Ian
Haney-Lopez, Racism on Trial: The Chicano Fight for Justice (
3.
Gloria
Lopez-Stafford,
4.
Gloria
Anzaldua, Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza , 2nd
Edition (San Francisco: Aunt Lute Books, 1999)
CLASS
REQUIREMENTS
●Attendance
It is to your benefit to come to class
regularly. As suggested above you are allowed three absences with no questions
asked. If after that you will miss class due to college approved
extracurricular activities you should bring copies of a form, signed by the
official sponsor of the activity (e.g., coach) noting the dates that you will
be absent. If you miss class due to a
family emergency, illness, mandated court appearances and the like submitt a
written explanation of your absence or contact The Office of Student Affairs
(Lighty 360, 335-4531).
●
Participation: 10% Your participation is important. I
expect you to contribute to class discussions and to participate actively
in individual and group activities. You will need to be able to speak about
themes addressed in class in an informed and fluent manner. Keep in mind that
you cannot engage in intelligent dialogue nor pose thoughtful questions unless
you complete the assigned readings in a timely fashion, before each class. Come
prepared and do not come with excuses. Furthermore, your participation should
not be based on frequency but on the quality of your contribution. Here are few
tips to guide your participation:
●
Journal Assignment (5): 20%
You will be required to write a
response to a question related to the readings, lectures, and film/videos. Each response should be 2 to 3 pages in
length, double-spaced and typed or word processed and turned it at the
beginning of class. You should keep your journal entries in a portfolio. In this class, lectures and in-class
discussions will be in English. However, if you are fluent in Spanish or want
to practice it you are welcome to turn your written assignments in
Spanish. The journal is also intended to
help you study for the final exam.
●
Group Presentations: 30%
Each student will be paired up with one
or two students to during the first or second week and will be required to make
a group presentation at the end of the semester. The purpose of the group
presentation is to allow students to explore a topic or issue in more depth and
share your findings with the class. Each group will be responsible to meet
outside of class and conduct the research on such topic/issue. You will receive
specific guidelines on the group presentation.
●
Final Exam: 40%
The final exam will cover all lectures,
readings and films/videos during the entire semester. Each student must take the
final exam to complete the course. There will be no substitute work or make-up
exams without the documented illness or emergency notification. The format will
be short essay questions and short answer identification. Please bring a blue
book for the in-class exam. The Final Exam Date will be: Wed. Dec. 15th
Extra
credit points There
will be extra credit opportunities throughout the semester. Throughout the semester there will be
presentations by well-know individuals, films and cultural events. To earn
extra credit you must write a short response on the presentation or film, or
event.
Final
Grading Scale:
100% - 95% = A
94% - 90% = A-
89% - 87% = B+
86% - 84% = B
83% - 80% = B-
79% - 77% = C+
76% - 74% = C
73% - 70% = C-
69% - 67% = D+
66% - 64% = D
63% and below = F
Special
Notes:
* You written work may be used for
assessment purposes and department learning outcomes.
* The instructor reserves the right to
modify and make any changes to the syllabus during the semester.
* You are recommended to use the “My
WSU” webpage. [my.wsu.edu]
* Reasonable accommodations are
available for students who have a documented disability. Contact the DRC in the
Admin. Annex 206 (5-1566).
*Academic
Dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication in the process of
completing academic work. If caught students we be punished according to
university guidelines: WAC 504-25-015
COURSE SCHEDULE:
WEEK 1: Introduction
Tuesday (Aug. 24): Introductions, Course Overview & Select
your group topic
Thursday
(Aug. 26): Latino, Hispanic, Chicano--What’s in a Name?
SECTION 1: Colonial Foundations of Identity
WEEK
2:
Tuesday
(Aug.31)
Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera, Chap. 1:
Homeland Aztlan
VIDEO: Chicano: “The
Quest for a Homeland”
Thursday
(Sept. 2)
Benjamin Saenz, “In the Borderlands of Chicano
Identity,” [CES Dept.]
DUE:
Journal Assignment #1
SECTION 2: Labor and Immigration
WEEK 3:
Tuesday (Sept. 7):
Gonzalez and Fernandez, “Empire and the Origins of
Mexican Migration to the
Thursday (Sept. 9):
Erasmo Gamboa, Mexican
Labor and WWII, chap. 1: Agribusiness and Mexican Migration
& chap. 2: World War II & Farm Labor Crisis
WEEK 4:
Tuesday (Sept. 14)
Erasmo Gamboa, Mexican
Labor and WWII, chap. 3: The Bracero Worker
Thursday, (Sept. 16)
Erasmo Gamboa, Mexican
Labor and WWII, chap. 4: Huelgas: Bracero Strikes
WEEK 5:
Tuesday
(Sept 23)
Erasmo Gamboa, Mexican
Labor and WWII, chap. 5: Bracero Social Life
Thursday (Sept 25)
Erasmo Gamboa, Mexican
Labor and WWII, chap. 6: Braceros to Chicano Farm Migrant Workers
& Conclusion
DUE: Journal Assignment #2
SECTION 3:
Growing up Mexican American
WEEK 6:
Tuesday,
(Sept. 28)
Gloria López-Stafford,
Thursday, (Sept. 30) No Class
WEEK 7:
Tuesday,
(Oct. 5)
Gloria López--Stafford,
Thursday,
(Oct.7)
Gloria López--Stafford,
WEEK 8:
Tuesday,
(Oct. 12)
Gloria López--Stafford,
Thursday,
(Oct. 14)
Gloria López--
DUE:
Journal Assignment #3
SECTION 3:
The Construction of a New Racial Identity
WEEK 9:
Tuesday, (Oct. 19)
Haney- López-, Racism on Trial, Chapter 1:
Chicano Movement Cases
Video: Chicano!
Taking Back the Schools”
Thursday, (Oct. 21))
Haney- López-, Racism on Trial, Chap. 2:
Proving Mexicans Exist
WEEK
10:
Tuesday,
(Oct. 26)
Haney-
López-, Racism on Trial, Chap. 3: The Mexican Race in
Thursday,
(Oct. 28)
Haney- López-, Racism on Trial, Chap. 4:
Intentional Racism
Chap. 5: Common Sense Racism
WEEK 11:
Tuesday, (Nov. 2)
Haney- López-, Racism on Trial, Chap.6: Law
Enforcement and Legal Violence
Chap.7:
Thursday, (Nov. 4)
Haney- López-, Racism on Trial, Chapter: 8
From Young Citizens to Brown Berets
Chapter
9: Inventing Chicanos
DUE:
Journal Assignment #4
SECTION 4: Construction of a “New Mestiza”
Consciousness
WEEK 12:
Tuesday,
(Nov. 9)
Gloria
Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera, Chap. 2:
Thursday,
(Nov. 11) No Class
WEEK 13:
Tuesday, (Nov. 16)
Gloria
Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera, Chap. 4 & 5
Thursday, (Nov. 18)
Gloria
Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera, Chap. 7
WEEK 14: (Nov.
22-26) THANKSGIVING BREAK
WEEK 15:
Tuesday,
(Nov.30)
DUE:
Journal Assignment #5
Group Presentations
Thursday, (Dec.2)
Group
Presentations
WEEK 16:
Tuesday, (Dec. 7):
Group Presentations
Thursday, (Dec. 9)
Group Presentations
Final Exam Review
Final Exam
Wed. Dec. 15th