This interdisciplinary course will explore current and historical perceptions and effects socio- economic structure and policies have had on the everyday lives of specific ethnic groups and multi- cultural communities with regard to Identity and Race within the fabric of our city. The focus this semester will be on three distinctive ethnic groups, African American, Latinx, Asian American. The class will be divided in three small groups, each group will be designated one of the ethnic groups. There will be collaborative research, reading discussions and presentations connected with Race + Identity + Anti-Racism + Racial Equality.Through collaborations with participating local Community Organizations (if available online) in various neighborhoods, the student will gain a better understanding of the everyday life of marginalized communities and the challenges they face. Areas and issues such as the representation the power of space both physical and psychological, public place (urban fabric) or private (intimate space) will help frame discussions as they relate to personal or cultural identities (race, class, religion and gender roles) and the inequalities that exists within these frameworks. The students will individually propose a project for the semester based on the course’s content. Students will produce works using a discipline of their choice (art, design, architecture) and through historical and political research, cultural and aesthetic experiences, produce works that reflect an understanding of the complexity facing these marginalized multi-cultural communities and ethnic groups through the lens of, identity, racism, inequality. The students’ work will culminate in a book/catalog.

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