Time Schedule:
James N Gregory
HIST 498
Seattle Campus
Each seminar examines a different subject or problem. A quarterly list of the seminars and their instructors is available in the Department of History undergraduate advising office.
Class description
SEATTLE LABOR AND CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT
Students in this class will participate in an historical research project that is documenting the history of struggles for racial and economic justice in the Seattle area. The civil rights movement in Seattle started well before the celebrated struggles in the South in the 1950s and the Seattle movement relied not just on African American activists, but also Filipino Americans, Japanese Americans, Chinese Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans. It also depended upon the support of some elements of the region's labor movement. From the 1910s through the 1970s, labor and civil rights were linked in complicated ways, with some unions and radical organizations providing critical support to struggles for racial justice, while others blocked access to jobs and obstructed struggles for equal rights.
The Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project is a multi-year research project based at the University of Washington. Please examine the website to learn more about the project: www.civilrights.washington.edu
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
This is a hands-on historical research project. We will not only read about the history of civil rights movements we will be producing historical materials and interpretations that will be valuable to others interested in this subject. There are two major assignments: (1) produce a 15 page research report on an issue, incident, organization, or individual. If you so desire, and if the quality of the work warrants it, these interviews and research reports may be published as part of the Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project website. (2) Participate fully in discussions and other class activities. This is very much a group research effort and I expect we will work together closely over the course of the quarter.
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Students will be graded on participation in the variety of research activities associated with the project and will be responsible for a 15 page research report.
