Austin Peay’s sociology department offering a Black Lives Matter/contemporary race relations class
Shortly after George Floyd’s death on May 25, the words “Black Lives Matter” appeared in bright yellow letters on streets across the country. Those painted words represent a growing political and social movement, and this spring the Austin Peay State University Department of Sociology will examine the history and implications of this movement with a new class, “Black Lives Matter and Contemporary Race Relations.”
“Using a sociological lens, this course takes a theoretical, empirical and historical examination of race relations in America,” Dr. Amanda Patrick, assistant professor of sociology, said. “Special attention will be paid to the social movements aimed at securing legal and social equality for Black Americans, including the Black Lives Matter movement.”
This summer, nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice have led large numbers of people to take a closer look at society and its power structures. This class is designed to help APSU students interpret the cultural and historical significance of these protests.
“Students in this class will examine how inequalities in education, healthcare, religion and policing informed historical and current mobilization efforts for equality and justice,” Patrick said.
According to its mission and vision statement, the APSU Department of Sociology works “to encourage our students, our colleagues, and the community we live in to foster a greater awareness and understanding of the social issues and sociological forces that affect us all.”
For more information about this new class, contact Dr. Jonniann Butterfield, department chair, at butterfieldj@apsu.edu.
News Feed
View All News
Austin Peay State University's Zone 3 Press, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, is hosting NEA Creative Writing Fellowship recipient and award-winning writer Toni Jensen for a free public reading and book signing at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Art + Design Room 120.
Read More
David Hogan of Ribbon Communications and David "Buck" Dellinger of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council (EDC) will share their real-world perspectives on leadership, innovation, and career development during this semester's speaker series.
Read More
Title III grant funding recently allowed 16 faculty members from across campus to participate in the Career Readiness Academy, an extended workshop series focused on labor market tools, curriculum development, and National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competencies.
Read More