Readings & Schedule

Tentative Course Schedule

*****Please note that all readings are due on the date under which they are listed*****

Instructor reserves the right to modify course schedule as necessary.

Unit 1: Historical Contexts

T 8/27: Introduction

Th 8/29:

• Hing, Bill Ong. “What does it mean to be Asian American?” Major Problems in Asian American History.
• Omi, Michael and Howard Winant. “Racial Formations”

T 9/3: Takaki, Ronald. “Overblown with Hope: The First Wave of Asian Immigration.” Strangers from a Different Shore.

Th 9/5: Ronald Takaki, “Centrality of Racism in Asian American History.” Major Problems in Asian American History.

T 9/10:  Sylvia Yanagisako, “Rethinking the Centrality of Racism in Asian American History.” Major Problems in Asian American History.

Th 9/12: RESPONSE PAPER DUE

• Guest Speakers, Union of Pan Asian Communities and Kuya Ate Mentorship Program

Unit 2: Yellow Power

T 9/17: Ngai, Mae. “The Liberal Critique and Reform of Immigration Policy.” Impossible Subjects.

Th 9/19: Omatsu, Glen. “’The Four Prisons’ and the Movement of Liberation: Asian American Activism from the 1960s to the 1990s.” Contemporary Asian America. pp. 56-88.

T 9/24: Umemoto, Karen. “’On Strike!’: San Francisco State College Strike, 1968-1969: The Role of Asian American Students.” Contemporary Asian America. pp. 25-55.

Th 9/26: Zia, Helen. “Detroit Blues: ‘Because of You Motherfuckers.’” Asian American Dreams.

T 10/1: Vincent Who? (2009) Dir. Tony Lam

Th 1/3: CLASS CANCELLED

T 10/8: Bedi, Sheila A. “Constructed Identities of Asian & African Americans: A Story of Two Races & the Criminal Justice System.” Harvard Blackletter Law Journal

Th 10/10:

• Vo, Linda Trinh. “Beyond Color-blind Universalisms: Asians in a ‘Postracial America.’ Journal of Asian American Studies, Volume 13, Number 3, October 2010, pp. 327-34
• Fan, Chris. “Jean Quan and the Death of Asian America.” Hyphen
• Liu, Kenji. “Memory is Solidarity: Ogawa-Grant Plaza as Opportunity.”  Reproductive Justice Blog.

T 10/15: IN-CLASS MIDTERM EXAM

Unit 3: Waves of War

Th 10/17: Bankston and Hidalgo. “The Waves of War: Immigrants, Refugees, and New Americans.” Contemporary Asian America. pp. 139-157.

T 10/22: Zhou, Min and Carl Bankston. “The Scatterings of War.” Growing Up American. Russel Sage Foundation, 1999

Th 10/24: Chapter 1, The Gangster We Are All Looking For.

T 10/29: Chapter 2, The Gangster We Are All Looking For.

Th 10/31: Chapter 3, The Gangster We Are All Looking For.

T 11/5: Chapter 4, The Gangster We Are All Looking For.

Th 11/7: Chapter 5, The Gangster We Are All Looking For.

T 11/12: COMMUNITY EVENT REFLECTION PAPER DUE

• Guest Speakers. Karen Organization of San Diego
• UNHCR, Quick Fact Sheet: Burmese Resettlement from Tham Hin Camp in Thailand.

Unit 4: Making Home

Th 11/14: Homebound, Ch 1

T 11/19: Homebound, Chs 2 & 3

Th 11/21: Homebound, Chs 4 & 5

T 11/26: Homebound, Ch 6

Th 11/28: NO CLASS –  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

T 12/3: Homebound, Ch 7

Th 12/5:

• Homebound, Ch 8
• Silent Sacrifices (2001) Dir. Patricia Heras

T 12/10: Homebound, Ch 9

FINAL EXAM: TUES 12/17, 10:30-12:30