NPR's Code Switch team visited Martina McGhee's course, Race and Identity through Pop Culture.
(Dec. 12, 2018) -- Topics related to race and identity are difficult to discuss in a honest and transparent manner. Students at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) have been openly discussing such subjects this fall semester in a new course offered through the UTSA African American Studies program.
The course, Race and Identity through Pop Culture (AAS 4013), is taught by Martina McGhee, a doctoral fellow in the UTSA Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching.
During the course, students listened to NPR’s Code Switch podcast, utilized other digital resources and were challenged to think about race and identity theory using these tools. The Code Switch team visited the UTSA Main Campus to attend two class sessions and to hear what students had to say about the podcast and their experience in the course.
>> Listen to the National Public Radio story about the UTSA course.
“By incorporating podcasts and different forms of media into the curriculum, I wanted to provide affordable access to education,” said McGhee. McGhee said she designed the course around the conversations aired by Code Switch to ensure the cost of the class was inclusive to all students.
The undergraduate students were also required to produce their own podcasts and would carry on the discussions they had in the classroom on Twitter by using the hashtag, #UTSAAAS4013.
Throughout the semester, McGhee said she hosted guest speakers from different backgrounds who were able to share their experiences with students and to get their take on race and identity.
“Conversations like these aren’t happening very often in other classes,” said Zach Truesdale, a senior from Arlington, Texas, majoring in English and minoring in African American Studies.
“I didn't realize how important my voice was as an African American woman until I decided to minor in African American Studies at UTSA,” explained Michaela McClendon, a junior from Killeen, Texas who is studying psychology.
This discussion-based course also allowed students to take part in a scavenger hunt meant to teach them about the racialized experiences some people may face when they're trying to enjoy the outdoors because of the limitations in access to sports equipment and transportation.
Students also took part in respectful conversations about issues affecting the LGBTQ community, and topics about immigration and stereotypes.
“Ultimately, I want to teach my students how to facilitate these tough conversations in a civil and educated manner. The real test will come when they’re out in the world and how they will engage and respond to others. I want to plant the seed of how to carry on impactful conversations now for them to use down the road,” said McGhee.
McGhee will be teaching this course during the Spring 2019 semester.
Listen to the National Public Radio story about the UTSA course.
Learn more about the UTSA African American Studies Program.
Learn more about the UTSA College of Education and Human Development.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Join the UTSA community in celebrating the life of Dr. Thelma Duffey.
Aula Canaria (BV 1.328), Buena Vista Building, Downtown CampusThe proposed annual BME Research Symposium will allow students to present their undergraduate research free of charge, providing them with the opportunity to network and build their professional skills.
H-E-B Student Union Ballroom 1 & 2, Main CampusThe UTSA Marches Committee, in partnership with the Cesar E. Chavez Legacy and Education Foundation, invites everyone to the 27th annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice. This event is in conjunction with the "Yes We CAN" food donation drive with the San Antonio Food Bank. Guests are encouraged to bring canned food items with them to the march to deposit cans into barrels before the march begins.
1310 Guadalupe St, San Antonio, TX 78207Join us to learn about how Impostor Syndrome can affect your career decisions and how you view yourself, your knowledge, and abilities. You will leave with actionable items related to implementing coping strategies for symptoms that may arise in your career development (mentally, physically, emotionally).
University Career Center (S.U. 2.02.04,) Main CampusJoin UTSA librarians for this introductory workshop for early career faculty on how to build your online scholarly identity.
John Peace Library, GroupSpot BJoin the conversation with Karleen Pendleton Jimenez, a professor in the Department of Gender and Social Justice at Trent University.
Virtual EventLearn to use the dynamic tool VMOCK to assist you in your job/internship search. Evaluate your resume. Get feedback on your "elevator pitch" and on how you engage in verbal communication virtually and in-person.
Multidisciplinary Studies (MS 2.02.36,) Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.