This course provides an overview of interpersonal violence in the
African American community.  Emphasis is placed on examining the
intersection of race, social-cultural context and acts of
interpersonal violence. Class sessions will be devoted to
discussions of robbery, assault, murder, street gangs and intimate
partner violence. Special attention will be devoted to considering
the impact that violence is having on members of  the hip hop
generation.  Final grade will be determined by assessment of six
short answer written assignments related to course readings and a 15
page Position Paper that outlines policy and program strategies to
reduce the occurrence of interpersonal violence among African
Americans.

Readings may include:

Ferguson, Ann A. (2001). Bad Boys: Public Schools in the Making of
Black Masculinity (Law, Meaning, and Violence) (Paperback)
University of Michigan Press
ISBN-13: 978-0472088492

Wilson, William J. (1996). When Work Disappears-The World of the New
Urban Poor. Vintage
ISBN-13: 978-0679724179

Kitwana, Bakari (2003). The Hip Hop Generation. Basic Civitas Books
ISBN-13: 978-0465029792

Wright, Richard & Decker, Scott (1997). Armed Robbers in Action.
Boston: Northeastern University Press.

Sharpley-Whiting, T. (2007). Pimps Up, Ho's Down: Hip Hop's Hold on
Young Black Women. New York University Press.
ISBN-13: 978-0814740149

Class meeting:  Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30-3:45, BH 246

Distribution credit: S&H, intensive writing

Instructor:  Professor William Oliver, Criminal Justice Department