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Race, Gender, and Culture

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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.

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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.

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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

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Provides a hands-on opportunity to immerse oneself in baseball history and learn about the sport's legends.

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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'

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of baseball, from its origins to the modern era.

View Baseball on Amazon

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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

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Provides an opportunity to hear from an expert in the field and gain insights into baseball's history and cultural significance.

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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

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Complete a series of discussion board posts

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Encourages critical thinking, communication, and engagement with course material and classmates.

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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

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Develops research, presentation, and historical analysis skills while deepening understanding of baseball's significant role in the Civil Rights Movement.

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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

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Professor

Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities.

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Archivist

Archivists are responsible for acquiring, preserving, and making accessible historical records and other materials.

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Museum curator

Museum curators are responsible for planning and managing exhibitions, as well as for acquiring, preserving, and interpreting museum collections.

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Journalist

Journalists research, write, and report on news and current events.

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Lawyer

Lawyers advise and represent clients in legal matters, including civil and criminal cases. They also draft legal documents, such as contracts and wills.

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Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information, and they also provide guidance on research and other library-related topics.

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Anthropologist

Anthropologists study the behavior, origin, and development of humans.

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Sociologist

Sociologists study the behavior and interactions of people in groups, organizations, and societies.

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Teacher

Teachers plan and deliver instruction to students in a variety of settings, including public schools, private schools, and colleges and universities.

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Political Scientist

Political scientists study the theory and practice of politics and government.

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Economist

Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

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Psychologist

Psychologists study the mind and behavior.

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Counselor

Counselors help people with mental health issues and provide guidance on personal and career matters.

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Social Worker

Social workers help people cope with personal and social problems.

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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.

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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.

The Fantasy Worlds of W.E.B. Du Bois

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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.

The Fantasy Worlds of W.E.B. Du Bois

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The Color of Law

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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.

The Color of Law

The Color of Law

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Baseball in the Garden of Eden

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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.

Baseball in the Garden of Eden

Baseball in the Garden of Eden

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Encounter on the Seine

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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.

Encounter on the Seine: Essays (James Baldwin...

Encounter on the Seine: Essays

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The Negro Leagues, 1869-1960

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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.

The Negro Leagues, 1869-1960

The Negro Leagues, 1869-1960

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The Warmth of Other Suns

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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.

The Warmth of Other Suns

The Warmth of Other Suns

The New Jim Crow: Young Readers' Edition

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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.

The New Jim Crow: Young Readers' Edition

The New Jim Crow: Young Readers' Edition

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The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison

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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.

The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison

Trading Twelves: The Selected Letters of Ralph...

The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison

Trading Twelves: The Selected Letters of Ralph...

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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.

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide

White Rage The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide,...

White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide

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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:

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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