New class: The Multiracial Experience

New class: The Multiracial Experience

The Portland State Vanguard
Portland, Oregon
2013-01-16

Gwen Shaw

The eye of the storm.

That’s what Black Studies professor Ethan Johnson calls the Northwest, when it comes to multiracialism.

“The Northwest has some of the highest rates, within the black community in particular, of marrying outside of their race—in the whole country,” Johnson said.

This fact, along with many others, is discussed in Johnson’s course, titled “The Multiracial Experience.”

Johnson explained that the course has three focuses: interracial relationships, both friend and romantic; transracial adoptions; and people who identify as, or are identified as, multiracial.

With a primary focus on discussion, the class looks into these topics and considers how gender, class and sexuality play roles in the multiracial experience. In class, students will look at and discuss poetry, commercials, pop culture, music and documentaries.

“I see myself as a facilitator of discussion,” Johnson said…

Read the entire article here.

Tags: , , , , ,