Fred Glennon, Ph.D.
Professor  (RH 216)
Department of Religious Studies
Le Moyne College
Syracuse, New York 13214
(315) 445-4343

REL 405

Course Schedule

Spring 2017 

Date

Class Modules and Topics (for all Assignments see Canvas)

Module 1

The Learning Covenant

1/24

Introductions

1/26

Introductions (cont.)

·        Read Social Justice Action Project Description, Syllabus, and Learning Covenant materials on Canvas (http://Canvas.lemoyne.edu/)

·         Fred Glennon, "Experiential Learning and Social Justice Action," Teaching Theology and Religion (on Canvas) (Skim this essay to get a sense of what I am attempting to do in this class.)  

1/31

The Evolution of Morality

·        Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind, excerpts of chapters 1-3, and chapter 4 (on Canvas).

Module 2

Understanding Oppression and Privilege

2/2

Understanding Oppression and Privilege

  • Group 1:  Marilyn Frye, "Oppression;" Eleanor Haney, "Understanding Structures of Oppression" (on Canvas) 
  • Group 2:  Karen Lebacqz, "Rupture: The Reign of Injustice," in Justice in an Unjust World, ch. 1 (on Canvas)
  • Group 3:  Iris Young, “Five Faces of Oppression,” in Justice and the Politics of Difference (on Canvas)
  • Group 4:  Beverly Tatum, "Defining Racism," from Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting in the Cafeteria Together? (on Canvas)
  • Group 5:  Michelle Alexander, “The New Jim Crow,” from The New Jim Crow:  Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (on Canvas)

 

How Privileged Are You?  Take this quiz

2/7

Internalizing Oppression

  • Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye (start reading)

2/9

Interstructuring Oppression

  • Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye (finish reading—see Canvas for questions to answer)

2/14

Class, Inequality, and Economic Insecurity

 

·        David Shipler, The Working Poor, 3-38

·        Video on Attitudes toward Poverty Programs

 

2/16

Case Study:  The Working Poor

 

·      David Shipler, The Working Poor

-   Group 1:  pp. 39-76

-   Group 2:  pp. 77-95

-   Group 3:  pp. 96-120

-   Group 4:  pp. 121-141

-   Group 5:  pp. 142-173

 

2/21

Case Study:  The Working Poor (cont.)

  • David Shipler, The Working Poor

-   Group 1:  pp. 174-200

-   Group 2:  pp. 201-230

-   Group 3:  pp. 231-253

-   Group 4:  pp. 254-284

-   Group 5:  pp. 285-300

2/23

Understanding and Responding to Our Complicity

·        Group 1:  Time Wise, “White Like Me,” Excerpted from When Race Becomes Real: Black and White Writers Confront Their Personal Histories (on Canvas)

·        Group 2:  George Yancy, “Whiteness as Ambush,” from Black Bodies, White Gazes (on Canvas)

·        Group 3:  Mary Hobgood, “Dismantling Whiteness,” from Dismantling Privilege (on Canvas)

·        Group 4:  Peggy McIntosh, "White Privilege and Male Privilege;" Gloria Steinem, “If Men Could Menstruate” (on Canvas)

·        Group 5:  Michelle Alexander, “The Fire This Time,” from The New Jim Crow (on Canvas)

 

Video:  The Promise

Video:  The Future of Race in America

Module 3

Traditional Conceptions of Social Justice

2/28

Social Justice:  Utility

3/2

Social Justice:  Contract Response

·        John Rawls, “Justice as Fairness” Philosophical Review Vol. LXVII. 1958 (on Canvas)

3/6-10

Spring Break (No classes)

3/14

Snow Day

3/16

Social Justice:  Contract Response

·        John Rawls, “Justice as Fairness” Philosophical Review Vol. LXVII. 1958 (on Canvas)

Module 4

Rethinking Social Justice from the Margins

3/21

Hispanic: 

·        Rubén Rosario Rodríguez, "Hispanic Liberative Ethics," in Ethics:  A Liberative Approach (91-107).

3/23

African-American:

·        Keri Day, “African-American Liberative Ethics,” in Ethics:  A Liberative Approach (109-126)

Womanist:

·        Thelathia Young and Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, “Women of Color Liberative Ethics,” in Ethics:  A Liberative Approach (189-206)

3/28

Feminist:

·        Michelle Tooley, “Feminist Liberative Ethics,” in Ethics:  A Liberative Approach (165-188)

Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender: 

·        Patrick Cheng, “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Liberative Ethics,” in Ethics:  A Liberative Approach (207-221)

3/30

Asian-American: 

·        Sharon Tan, “Asian-American Liberative Ethics,” in Ethics:  A Liberative Approach (127-142)

American Indian:

·        Mark Freland, “American Indian Liberative Ethics,” in Ethics:  A Liberative Approach (143-162)

4/4

Revisiting Economic Injustice

 

·        Laura Stivers, “Economic Liberative Ethics,” in Ethics:  A Liberative Approach (67-87)

Module 5

Doing Justice:  Student Presentations

4/6

Environmental Justice

·        Devon, Austin,

4/11

Disability in the workforce

·        Amanda, Natalie

Hunger

·        Krista

4/13

Easter Break (no class)

4/18

Hunger

·        Erika, Chelsea

Muslim Ban

·        Alice

4/20

Women’s Rights

·        Bhumi Parekh

Dental Care

·        Courtney

4/25

Animal Rights

·        Tori, Kim, Taylor, Bam, Jordan

Sexual Assault and Prevention in Military

·        Scott

4/27

Exercise Health

·        Elisabeth, Halina

Women’s Oppression Today

·        Carleena

5/2

Transgender Bathroom Rights

·        Wes

Childhood Cancer Funding

·        James, Mike, Emily, Ben

5/4

Hunger

·        Erika, Chelsea

Muslim Ban

·        Alice

Envisioning Social Change

·        Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love (excerpts) (on Canvas)

Last day of class (all individual learning covenant activities due)

5/10

Final Social Justice Project Papers Due