HSOC-331: Human Rights Movements in U.S.

Using art, novels, movies, plays, speakers and interviews, we will learn about and compare the civil rights and human rights movements in the United States over the last 240 years. In this class we will cover the meaning of Civil Rights and Human Rights and how these developed over the history of the United States. We will look at the situation for individuals and groups that gave rise to the Civil Rights movements in the United States for African Americans, Women, LBGT community, Native Americans, Latinos/Chicanos, Immigrant Groups, Prisoners and Disabled Children and Adults. We will analyze how these groups became aware of themselves as an interest group, what their goals and strategies were and presently are; who were their leaders and other allies; what were their challenges and successes. We will look at the events, actions, arts and expression of these movements as expressed by members of the movement as well as the dominant culture by reading primary sources, hearing music, reading poetry and watching many movies.