Course Description

This course is an advanced introduction to the study of cities and urban life. Cities are the result
of human interaction and are therefore socially contested spaces. We will analyze how race, class
and gender inequality have been fundamental aspects of the growth and development of modern
cities. As well, we will examine how people have organized to claim their right to the city space.
While we will focus on the U.S. cities, we will examine countries outside the U.S. for
comparative analysis. Some of the themes for this course include:

• Racial capitalism
• Globalization, economic restructuring, and race
• Urbanization and racial apartheid
• Gentrification and spatial removal
• Resistance and protest