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Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: February 12, 2004
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

CRMJ 352: Law and Social Change

You will be held accountable for purposes of grading for the readings and exercises listed here. There will be no "testing." That means that you will not have to live in anxious anticipation of what we will ask and how much you will have to know. Instead, we will provide weekly discussion questions, lectures, essays, and concepts we feel that you should know as a result of having taken this course. You will assure us of that learning and receive your grade for the questions and concepts about which you choose to write and talk with us. In addition you will find detailed explanations and examples on our grading policies in the first week's reading.

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Week 5: Week of February 15, 2004

Topic: The American Indian and Critical Race Theory

Preparatory Readings:

• Arrigo. Social Justice, Criminal Justice - Chapters 9.
• Mann and Zatz. Images of Color, Images of Crime -- Chapters 2 and 7.
• Critical Race Theory Resource Page on the Dear Habermas site.

Lecture related links:



• Martha Minow. Making All the Difference: Exclusion, Inclusion and American Law. Check out this link Martha Minow on the Dear Habermas site.
• "They Ain't Us: Identity as an Anti-Norm"
  
• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
• Links to the Sociology of Law Handbook readings
  -- Introduction
  -- Chapter 1, part 1
  -- Chapter 1, part 2
  -- Chapter 2
  



Concepts/individuals to be covered:

• American Indian
• the reservation Indian vs. the urban Indian
• Wounded Knee
• critical race theory (CRT)
• critical legal studies (CLS)
• interracial crime
• racial hoaxes



Discussion Questions:

1. Think about your own view of what you have been taught about Indians. Did this reading prompt you to consider any views you have held about Indians? If so, how? (M&Z, p. 27, Q.2).

2. What are some factors that led to a change in attitude toward Indians? Was the change lasting or substantial? Explain. (M&Z, p. 27, Q.5).

3. How were stereotypes incorporated into the media's coverage of law suits and legislation? (M&Z, p. 70, Q.3) .

4. Briefly list the strengths and weaknesses of critical race theory as they relate to this week's readings on American Indians?

5. Select one issue in criminal justice dealing with the American Indian and state how critical race analysis would be useful. Why?



Suggested Creative Measures:



• Read one of the recommended books listed below on the American Indian. Email me a brief book review.
• Examine how stereotypes and the stereotyping of the American Indian has changed from the past to present day.
• Compare and contrast the life experiences of the reservation Indian and the urban Indian.
• Trace either prime time television or movie images of the American Indian from past to present.
• Examine the legal case of Leonard Peltier, Dennis Banks or other American Indian leaders.
• Examine the controversy behind American Indian mascots and logos.



Recommended Readings:



• Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
• Dee Brown. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
• Mary Crow Dog. Lakota Woman.
• Nancy Lurie. Mountain Wolf Woman.

takata@uwp.edu

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