Seeing Race and Teaching “Introduction to American Politics.”

• In Event: TLC at APSA Diversity & Inclusion Track Panel 2: Inclusive Pedagogies to Meet the Challenges of the Current Moment

Abstract

Does it matter how we teach “Introduction to American Politics?” Do African-American, Latinx and Asian-American students benefit equally from how political scientists teach the standard “Introduction to American Politics” course? Theoretical and empirical research in sociology, education, and political science has shown that students of color do not benefit from the standard political science curriculum as much as white students do. This matters because education is one of the primary sites where racial oppression is reproduced. Instead of empowering students of color, standard political science education marginalizes them. In this research I hand code a representative sample of standard textbooks and syllabi used to teach the introductory political science course and then present an improved and more inclusive syllabus.

Author

• Mona S. Kleinberg, University of Massachusetts, Lowell