America Never was America to me: Race and Equity in US Public Schools

This cross-disciplinary course will use the 10-part docu-series "America to Me" to discuss the complexities of race and equity in US schools. The series follows a year in the life of a racially diverse, well-resourced high school outside Chicago, providing an in-depth look at the effects of race, equity, culture and privilege on educational opportunities, and offers insights into the teenage search for personal identity in today's climate. Two of the people featured in the series will be a part of the class, and after screening each episode, a Stanford professor will give a short talk inspired by the content of that episode. The talks will span several disciplines and theoretical perspectives, including Critical Race Theory, History, Psychology, Youth Development, Film Studies, Linguistics, and Teacher Education. Following each talk, students will engage in critical discussion around race and equity in education. Episode 10 will air during Final Exam week, but there will be no final exam.