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Introduction to Ethnic Studies

Introduction to Ethnic Studies

Last updated

Jun 22, 2023
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- Ethnic Studies
- Front Matter

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This text is ideal for an Introduction to Ethnic Studies course. It examines the development of Ethnic Studies as an interdisciplinary area of study to provide relevant education centering narratives, philosophies, histories, and cultures of Black Indigenous People of Color, while countering eurocentrism and white supremacy. The four core disciplines Africana/African American/Black Studies, Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies, Chicanx/Latinx Studies, and American Indian/Native American Studies are a primary focus as well as intersectionality, the racial wealth gap, policing and state sanctioned violence, resistance and solidarity.

Front Matter
1: Introduction
This is the introduction to our OER titled “Introduction to Ethnic Studies.” Fischer contextualizes the historically significant movement and moment for Ethnic Studies while emphasizing the power of this discipline to make an impact on students’ lives. All six authors of this resource share personal narratives of how Ethnic Studies influenced their lives. Further, all subsequent content chapters are summarized and introduced as well.
2: The Ongoing Struggle for Ethnic Studies
Ethnic Studies is an interdisciplinary approach to studying race, ethnicity, and Indigeneity that centers the experiences of historically minoritized groups. This chapter explores the emergence of Ethnic Studies and its importance in disrupting systems of power and exploitation in education. Despite being targeted by misinformation campaigns, Ethnic Studies has been shown to improve disparities in school achievement and contribute to a more positive and inclusive school culture.
3: Africana/African American/Black Studies
This chapter provides an overview of the field of Africana / African American / Black Studies, highlighting its interdisciplinary nature and connection to social justice movements. It explores the history and context that led to the creation of Black Studies, as well as some of the important concepts and scholarship that have come out of this area. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in understanding the experiences of Black communities.
4: American Indian/Native American Studies
This chapter introduces readers to the discipline of American Indian/Native American Studies and how it's distinct from disciplines that have traditionally "studied" Native peoples. Starting with Indigenous Ways of Knowing, the authors center Native voices and framing with an emphasis on California. Readers will engage with core concepts/theories, examine the impact of colonization and the legacy of resistance, and review current struggles related to ecological justice, land rights, and more.
5: Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies
This chapter introduces readers to key frameworks, theories, and topics in Asian American Studies, Pacific Islander Studies, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies. We review demographics, and examine the impacts of Orientalism, Colonialism, Imperialism, Wars, and Immigration and Exclusionary policies that have shaped Asian American communities. The chapter also critically analyzes the limitations in grouping Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
6: Chicanx and Latinx Studies
This chapter provides an overview of foundational concepts in Chicanx and Latinx Studies, exploring development and complexities of the academic field and areas of activist practice, highlighting key theories and knowledge produced by Chicanx and Latinx communities, covering topics of identity, community, culture, immigration, health, and political representation.
7: White Supremacy, Racisms, and Racial Formation
This chapter is an introduction to whiteness and white supremacy. It presents some key ideas to help de-center whiteness in Ethnic Studies and introduces concepts that help to frame the understanding of the standardization of whiteness in U.S. society. White supremacy and the Possessive Investment in Whiteness, and institutional racism are some major concepts that ground the discussion.
8: Intersectionality- Centering Women of Color
This chapter introduces readers to the concept of "intersectionality" as it applies to women of color. Topics addressed include: Women of Color Feminism or Third World Feminism, reproductive justice, and transformational liberation and love.
9: The Racial Wealth Gap
Chapter 9 explores the relationship between wealth inequality and race, making connections between capitalism and barriers to basic necessities like housing, employment, and education. Acevedo analyzes how the legacy of slavery and colonialism impact the racial wealth gap we see today, in addition to how historical and current economic systems like homeownership and employment practices disproportionately uplift whites over communities of color.
10: The State of Human Caging- Incarceration, Policing and State-Sanctioned Violence
This chapter provides historical context and critical analysis of how racism is inherent in the U.S. carceral system. Topics surveyed include: the Prison Industrial Complex, privatization of prisons, prison labor, the origins of policing, racial profiling, racism in the criminal justice system, the War on Drugs, the intersection of gender, race, and policing, border enforcement, the school-to-prison pipeline, and alternatives including the abolition movement.
11: Social Movements- Resistance and Solidarity
This chapter delves into the history and dynamics of social movements in Ethnic Studies, exploring frameworks of resistance and influential US-based liberation movements. It highlights the role of solidarity in these movements, examines labor and transnational struggles, and explores contemporary movements with a focus on environmental, racial, and gender justice.
Back Matter

Thumbnail: Cover poster "Intro to Ethnic Studies" by Kay Fischer is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Graphic by ©amethyststudio via Canva.com.

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