Ethnic Autobiography

This course will offer an introduction to the varieties of
ethnic autobiography within the United States, while encouraging critical
analysis of the texts and the definitions of race and ethnicity. Although
we will read autobiographies from various times in U.S. history, the bulk of
our readings will come from the post-World War II era. By tracing this range of
autobiographies, we will attempt to locate some of the common themes and
concerns of the authors; but we will also think about the ways in which the
goals/purposes of the genre may have changed over time. We will question how
racial and ethnic identities are constructed, used, and challenged within the
texts. And, we will critically consider how the genre of autobiography is
used for various authorial purposes.

Required Texts (available at Revolution Books):

  • Haley, Alex and Malcolm X. THE AUTOBIPGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X AS TOLD TO ALEX HALEY.
  • HALF & HALF: WRITERS GORWING UP BIRACIAL AND BICULTURAL.
  • Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki. FAREWELL TO MANZANAR.
  • Kanae, Lisa Linn. SISTA TONGUE.
  • Liliuokalani. HAWAII‘S STORY BY HAWAII’S QUEEN.
  • Santiago, Esmerelda. WHEN I WAS PUERTO RICAN.
  • Wiesel, Elie. NIGHT. 
  • Course packet from the copy center at the Campus Center (CP)