Race/ethnicity & the Law

Race and Ethnicity and the Law. Prerequisite: none, although Constitutional Law is helpful. Race has played a central role in American law from the Constitutional Convention through the civil rights movement to debates on affirmative action. This course will look at the evolution of "race" as a legal construct and its relation to ethnicity in our legal system. Examining cases, statutes, and analysis from diverse viewpoints, the course will consider the concept of a "colorblind" legal system in light of these historical developments.