Asian American Religion, Race, and Law

This course explores relationship between Asian Pacific Americans and American legal discourses of religion and race. In addition to examining the lived experience of Asian American religious communities in historical and contemporary perspectives, this course evaluates the racial and religious connotations and consequences of various state, federal, and international policies that directly affect Asian American communities. Students will learn to apply theories of race and religion to American law and political discourse by analyzing the language, historical context, and judicial contestations of key topics, including immigration restriction, citizenship, land laws, segregation, internment, refugee resettlement, and government surveillance. Students will be challenged to consider how state and society define and legislate religious minorities in America, as well as minority strategies of religious assimilation, political negotiation, and legal contestation. As such, students will consider how American definitions of religion and race determine religious legitimacy, legal inclusion, and cultural loyalty.