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Tom Zeiler
This course will explore baseball through the lenses of race, gender, and culture. For good and for ill, baseball has been at the forefront of how the United States has dealt with these issues. Does baseball leading the way with desegregation negate that the sport was at the forefront of segregation with its Gentlemen’s Agreements? What is the historical legacy of baseball providing opportunities for women during wartime, in a way that other North American professional sports leagues did not? These are some of the ideas that this course will explore as it shows baseball’s virtues and flaws.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/amrq6j/race
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What's inside
Syllabus
Baseball Comes of Age
Welcome to the course! In this module we will cover topics surrounding post civil war reconstruction, the rise of journalism in baseball, the color line, and women's baseball.
Read more
Syllabus
Baseball Comes of Age
Welcome to the course! In this module we will cover topics surrounding post civil war reconstruction, the rise of journalism in baseball, the color line, and women's baseball.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Provides a unique perspective on baseball by exploring its relationships to race, gender, and culture
Taught by Tom Zeiler, an experienced instructor in the field of baseball history
Examines the role of baseball in addressing societal issues
Explores the intersection of baseball and the Civil Rights movement
Highlights the contributions of women to baseball
Requires an understanding of American history and culture
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Reviews summary
Baseball as a lens for culture
According to learners, this course offers a unique and thought-provoking exploration of societal issues through the lens of baseball. Students praise the engaging lectures and well-structured content that delves into complex themes of race, gender, and culture. Many found the approach fresh and effective, highlighting how the course stimulates critical thinking. While the course covers sensitive topics, the overall sentiment indicates it provides a valuable and accessible learning experience, even for those without deep prior baseball knowledge.
No prior baseball expertise required to benefit.
"As someone not deeply familiar with baseball, I was surprised how much I still learned and enjoyed the course."
"I found the course accessible even without being a hardcore baseball fan; the broader themes were well-communicated."
"You don't need to love baseball to get a lot out of this course; it's truly about the social commentary."
Discusses challenging subjects with appropriate depth.
"While some topics were emotionally charged, I felt they were handled respectfully and thoughtfully."
"The discussions on race and segregation were difficult but necessary, and the course facilitated them well."
"I appreciate the courage to tackle these sensitive issues head-on, providing valuable historical context."
Promotes deeper analysis of historical and social contexts.
"This course really made me think critically about the historical narratives surrounding baseball and society."
"I gained a much deeper understanding of the civil rights movement and gender roles through this unique lens."
"It challenged my existing perceptions and encouraged me to analyze cultural phenomena with greater nuance."
Lectures are captivating and material is well-presented.
"The lectures were incredibly engaging, keeping me hooked from start to finish."
"I appreciated how well the content was organized and presented, making complex topics easy to follow."
"The instructor's passion really shines through, making every module fascinating and inspiring."
Uses baseball effectively to explore complex social issues.
"I found the approach of using baseball as a vehicle to discuss race and gender incredibly insightful and unique."
"This course offers a brilliant way to understand complex social dynamics through the history of a sport I love."
"I never thought baseball could teach me so much about American culture, race, and gender; it's truly a novel take."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Race, Gender, and Culture with these
activities:
Explore the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Show steps
Provides a hands-on opportunity to immerse oneself in baseball history and learn about the sport's legends.
Show steps
-
Visit the museum's website to familiarize yourself with the exhibits and plan your visit.
-
Take a guided tour of the museum to learn about the history of baseball and its impact on American culture.
-
Explore the museum's exhibits on your own, focusing on areas that interest you.
Review 'Baseball: A History'
Show steps
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of baseball, from its origins to the modern era.
View
Baseball
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book's preface and introduction to get an overview of the book's structure and scope.
-
Read each chapter and take notes on the key points and arguments presented.
-
Write a short summary of each chapter, highlighting the main ideas and how they fit into the overall narrative of the book.
-
Create a timeline of the events covered in the book to visualize the historical progression of baseball.
Attend a guest lecture by a baseball historian
Show steps
Provides an opportunity to hear from an expert in the field and gain insights into baseball's history and cultural significance.
Show steps
-
Attend the guest lecture and take notes on the key points presented.
-
Ask questions during the Q&A session to clarify any points or seek further information.
-
Reflect on the lecture and how it has expanded your understanding of baseball history.
Two other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all five activities
Complete a series of discussion board posts
Show steps
Encourages critical thinking, communication, and engagement with course material and classmates.
Show steps
-
Read the assigned readings and prepare thoughtful questions and comments.
-
Participate in online discussions by posting responses to prompts and engaging with other students' posts.
-
Provide constructive feedback on classmates' posts, offering insights and perspectives.
Create a timeline of racial integration in baseball
Show steps
Develops research, presentation, and historical analysis skills while deepening understanding of baseball's significant role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Show steps
-
Research the key events and figures involved in the racial integration of baseball.
-
Create a timeline that includes the dates, locations, and descriptions of these events.
-
Present your timeline to the class, explaining the significance of each event and how they contributed to the integration of baseball.
Explore the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Show steps
Provides a hands-on opportunity to immerse oneself in baseball history and learn about the sport's legends.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Visit the museum's website to familiarize yourself with the exhibits and plan your visit.
- Take a guided tour of the museum to learn about the history of baseball and its impact on American culture.
- Explore the museum's exhibits on your own, focusing on areas that interest you.
Review 'Baseball: A History'
Show steps
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of baseball, from its origins to the modern era.
View
Baseball
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the book's preface and introduction to get an overview of the book's structure and scope.
- Read each chapter and take notes on the key points and arguments presented.
- Write a short summary of each chapter, highlighting the main ideas and how they fit into the overall narrative of the book.
- Create a timeline of the events covered in the book to visualize the historical progression of baseball.
Attend a guest lecture by a baseball historian
Show steps
Provides an opportunity to hear from an expert in the field and gain insights into baseball's history and cultural significance.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Attend the guest lecture and take notes on the key points presented.
- Ask questions during the Q&A session to clarify any points or seek further information.
- Reflect on the lecture and how it has expanded your understanding of baseball history.
Two other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all five activities
Complete a series of discussion board posts
Show steps
Encourages critical thinking, communication, and engagement with course material and classmates.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the assigned readings and prepare thoughtful questions and comments.
- Participate in online discussions by posting responses to prompts and engaging with other students' posts.
- Provide constructive feedback on classmates' posts, offering insights and perspectives.
Create a timeline of racial integration in baseball
Show steps
Develops research, presentation, and historical analysis skills while deepening understanding of baseball's significant role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research the key events and figures involved in the racial integration of baseball.
- Create a timeline that includes the dates, locations, and descriptions of these events.
- Present your timeline to the class, explaining the significance of each event and how they contributed to the integration of baseball.
Career center
Learners who complete Race, Gender, and Culture will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Historian
Historian
Historians are responsible for researching, analyzing, interpreting, and writing about the past. They examine historical documents and other sources to uncover facts and draw conclusions about past events, cultures, and ideas. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to research and analyze historical events, as well as to communicate your findings in a clear and engaging way.
Professor
Professor
Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities.
Archivist
Archivist
Archivists are responsible for acquiring, preserving, and making accessible historical records and other materials.
Museum curator
Museum curator
Museum curators are responsible for planning and managing exhibitions, as well as for acquiring, preserving, and interpreting museum collections.
Journalist
Journalist
Journalists research, write, and report on news and current events.
Lawyer
Lawyer
Lawyers advise and represent clients in legal matters, including civil and criminal cases. They also draft legal documents, such as contracts and wills.
Librarian
Librarian
Librarians help people find and access information, and they also provide guidance on research and other library-related topics.
Anthropologist
Anthropologist
Anthropologists study the behavior, origin, and development of humans.
Sociologist
Sociologist
Sociologists study the behavior and interactions of people in groups, organizations, and societies.
Teacher
Teacher
Teachers plan and deliver instruction to students in a variety of settings, including public schools, private schools, and colleges and universities.
Political Scientist
Political Scientist
Political scientists study the theory and practice of politics and government.
Economist
Economist
Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
Psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologists study the mind and behavior.
Counselor
Counselor
Counselors help people with mental health issues and provide guidance on personal and career matters.
Social Worker
Social Worker
Social workers help people cope with personal and social problems.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/amrq6j/race
Reading list
We've selected ten books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Race, Gender, and Culture.
Save
This documentary provides a detailed history of baseball, covering events included in this course as well as many more. It good choice of supplemental material or optional enrichment.
Collection of essays and speeches by W.E.B. Du Bois on race relations in the United States. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
Save
Documents how the US government has been involved in the segregation of cities and towns across the country. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
Overviews American baseball history. It good choice for anyone curious about getting an overview before taking a deep dive into the more specific topics covered in this course.
This collection of essays by James Baldwin exploring race relations and American culture in the 1960s. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
Provides a broad history of the experiences of women in baseball, from the earliest days to the present. It provides background for some of the issues discussed in this course.
Tells the story of the Great Migration, when six million African Americans left the rural South for the urban North and West. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
Provides a history of racial segregation in housing, education, and employment in the United States. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
This novel provides a fictionalized account of an African American man's experiences with racism in the 1950s. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
Save
Argues that white rage driving force behind racial inequality in the United States. It provides background information for some of the topics covered in this course.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/amrq6j/race
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Effort
9 hours to complete
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Colorado Boulder
Instructor
Tom Zeiler
Language
English
This course belongs to a
collection
called
American History Through Baseball. It's comprised of four courses:
- Race, Gender, and Culture (viewing)
- Baseball and Americanism
- Moneyball and Globalization
- Baseball into the Millennium
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