UMass Boston

Course Overview

Description

This course is an introduction for students to understand how legal institutions and systems in the United States have impacted the Latina/nos community. This is essentially a U.S. history course teaching to and about subject matters often neglected in K-12 education. Beginning with an examination of Columbus and his impact to the Americas the course examines the initial creation of the system of oppression against the Latina/nos community. Through a variety of methods of learning including mock trial, small group work, individual critical reading of articles/book chapters/case law/statutes, and critical class viewing and debriefing of video presentation - students will get a better understanding of the U.S. and the core principles that built this country and the backs on whom this country was built upon. After a review of the past, the course will offer an examination of contemporary issues involving how Latina/nos have or have not been able to fully participate in life in the U.S. due to discriminatory laws and policies. It will then explore issues pertaining to voting rights, immigration reform, educational rights, privacy/reproductive rights. English Only laws, ethnic studies ban, right to participate in the jury process, and a host of other legal issues as revealed through case studies.