Oh yeah, great question. I really think there is good empirical evidence right now that many people in the US are experiencing problems that seem to be connected to race. There is a BLM movement because there are lots of shootings/killings. There are questions about the fairness of Affirmative Action. Asian folks have been subjected to violence and hatred because of the Coronavirus. Hilaria Baldwin was excoriated for her self-presentation as Spanish. So, yeah it strikes me as a relevant topic — one the students will encounter in the world, after college.

A college course is one place to talk about social dynamics and concerns. Students could research cannabis laws and discover connections to race, or make a case that these “connections” are not so clear. It’s an opportunity to check our facts and talk with people who disagree with us. It’s an opportunity to de-escalate tempers and clear up misunderstandings.

Is a college class the only place this can happen? No, of course not, but it is a good one.

Why talk about race rather than sex? Or socio-economic inequality? I’d love to talk about those things too. And of course, you can’t talk about everything in one semester. We do have to choose topics we think will benefit the students, and society, and it has to be a topic we know about or can learn about using our other training. It’s entirely possible that someone might come up with a great argument as to why talking about other things is more important or relevant or better. I’m just waiting to hear it.