Assignment - Contemporary Race Relations Issue Report 

SOC 10 Dr. Bany

Course Paper Assignment: Contemporary Race Relations Issue Report 

Overview:

Over a century ago W.E.B. DuBois declared, “The problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line.” Today we live in a society where race matters; race relations significantly effect and are affected by social institutions such as the media, criminal justice system, politics, family and intimate relationships, education, and politics. For this paper you will critically investigate one major issue in race relations today, provide a sociological analysis of the issue, consider diverse perspectives and experiences, and examine solutions.

First you need to choose a specific issue that is relevant today, examples are provided below, but you may choose to focus on any topic that interests you. I suggest choosing a topic that is narrow and specific.

Possible Topics/Issues:

· COVID-19 (health risk and access to testing and treatment, socioeconomic risk factors, educational disparities, etc.)

· Health (access to healthcare, mental health, environmental racism, etc.)

· Media (#BlackLivesMatter movement, Entertainment: representation and recognition)

· Criminal Justice System (mandatory sentencing laws, racial profiling by law enforcement)

· Education (school protests/social movements, race gap in higher education, tracking)

· Politics (2024 election rhetoric/candidates, immigration reform, refugee policies)

· Social relationships (dating and marriage preferences, friendships, workplace relations, etc.)

The Paper:

Your research report should include the following sections, identified clearly with section headings:

1. What is the major issue in race relations today? (1-2 pages)

· Reference at least three news articles published in the past twelve months (must be from “mainstream” news sources and available online. Examples include The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Washington Post, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, etc.)

· What is the extent of the major issue? How was it created? Who is impacted?

2. How do Sociologists study the issue? What types of questions do Sociologists ask? What do we know about the issue? Why does it matter? (2-3 pages)

· For this section you may need to broaden your search beyond the specific issue, for example if your issue is #BlackLivesMatter you could research race and social movements

· Read and cite a minimum of three sources from our assigned readings. Additional and outside sources are encouraged, but not required.

3. What do people in your life know about the issue? What are their opinions? How do views differ? (1-2 pages)

· For this section you will need to interview two people you know, one person who is age

18-30 and another who is 30-65+, asking the following questions:

1. What do you know about (the issue)?

2. How do you know what you know?

3. Is this issue important? to who? are you impacted by (the issue)?

4. Do you think anything is being done to address (the issue)? Do you think anything should be done?

4. What are possible solutions to address the issue? What is being done? Who are the major players (on multiple sides of the issue)? What do you think should be done, why? (1-2 pages)

· The paper should follow ASA formatting, be around 5-7 pages, typed, Times New Roman font, double-spaced, 12-point font, with one-inch margins, and include page numbers. The paper should include headings for the four separate sections. An electronic copy of the assignment must be uploaded to Canvas. The assignment should have a cover page with a title, your name, date, and course title. Include a reference page with a minimum of six sources ( 3 news media and 3 course readings).

· Draft should include: one paragraph overview of key issue, three sources in ASA format, list of interviewees and timeline for completion. (1-page single space with sections)

· Paper Due Dates on Canvas