Race in America 101

The Essential Audio Course on Race, Ethnicity, Discrimination, and Inequality

By: Alicia Simmons

Narrated by: Alicia Simmons

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Join an expert on the intersections of media, race, and politics to understand and unravel our nation’s current racial realities using the tools of social science.

One in five Americans names race relations the most important problem facing the country. In this revelatory 15-lecture audio course, you’ll learn how social science can help you understand the attitudes, actions, and outcomes associated with race in America. Your guide, acclaimed Colgate University sociology professor Alicia Simmons, shows you how social scientists interpret various problems associated with race in the contemporary US.

You’ll explore racial stratification, the causes and consequences of inequality, and the intersection of race and criminal justice in the United States. In particular, you’ll address how social forces have contributed to the disproportionate incarceration of Black people. Last, a section on #BlackLivesMatter describes what a post-racial nation might look like and how we might do the daily work needed to bring it to life.

Throughout, Prof. Simmons encourages you to investigate the influence of race in the social life of your communities. In the process, you’ll discover the degree to which social forces impact the world right outside your front door.

This is a must-have course for parents, teachers, and all those who wish to understand the science behind some of the biggest issues of our times.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

©2020 Now You Know Media, Inc. (P)2020 Now You Know Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

“With over twenty-years of collegiate teaching experience, I have seen few professors demonstrate the brilliance in teaching that Alicia Simmons has as a member of my department at Colgate University. She excels in all modes of instruction with a phenomenal level of engagement with her students. Professor Simmons also is an excellent and methodical researcher in the area of race and media. She represents the best and brightest in the field of sociology.” (Paul Lopes, professor of sociology, Colgate University)

“Professor Alicia Simmons is a master teacher and an excellent scholar. She is dynamic, engaging, and always prioritizes student learning. You will not only learn a lot about sociology from Professor Simmons, but you will also thoroughly enjoy the experience. I definitely recommend taking a course with Professor Simmons!” (Lynn Chin, associate professor of sociology, Washington & Lee University)

“Dr. Simmons is a dynamic, engaging, and insightful professor. I have seen her teach firsthand and remain inspired more than a decade later.” (Krystale Littlejohn, assistant professor of sociology, University of Oregon)

Engaging and Accessible

This book is an extremely thorough look at the history of how Race relates to daily in the United States. Alicia Simmons has been teaching college courses on these topics for years and has a wonderful ability to provide a very engaging and accessible look at this often emotional and challenging topic.

I think this book will provide an important perspective to anyone who listens to it.

Vital listening for our current moment

This is the second course from Simmons that I have found thoroughly enlightening. Simmons is a lucid, dynamic speaker who explains sociology's definitions and distinctions perfectly. She shows us how the sociological imagination can help us understand how social forces, rather than individual inclinations, drive behavior and trends. Her relating of experiences from her own life as a mixed-race American is also quite eye-opening. Every American should listen to this course.

Critical Issues Discussed by an Expert

This was a great audio course. The author (Simmons) got a Ph.D. at Stanford and is clearly an expert in the areas of social psychology and social justice. She isn't reading a book either, either. The content is delivered lecture-style in 25-minute chunks, which I found easy to listen to while driving. Every lecture is jam-packed with data and survey info. Simmons discusses some of the most complicated social issues of the day with a sense of calm and even humor at times. It was also interesting to learn about her personal backstory, as she and her family have diverse backgrounds that give her a unique take on this topic. Highly recommend this course, especially with all the protests going on that are calling attention to the inequality in our society today.

Outstanding! Insightful and Engaging

Professor Simmons is the ideal person to teach this timely audio course. Drawing from personal and family experiences and a deep understanding of the science behind such areas as criminal justice, discrimination, bias and economic inequality, she provides essential context to the issues of our day. As a white man with three young children, I care deeply about the sort of world we want to create and the sort of American in which we can all participate to the fullest. Often the news draws our attention to the problems of society without deeper understanding or hope for change. This course unpacks the debates and stimulates constructive thinking. Simply put, Simmons is a great professor, and I can't recommend this series highly enough.

An important and valuable contribution!

Dr. Alicia Simmons delivers a powerful course in the history of the social construction of race in the U.S. and its implications across domains like housing, education, employment, and incarceration. Grounded in foundational sociological theory, Simmons invites the listener to engage the ideas of Du Bois and Mills, among others, in consideration of the histories and current configurations of race. Professor Simmons’ course is intimately connected to historical facts, empirical data, and personal experience, gracefully woven together through her narrative. As an intentional pedagogue, Dr. Simmons frames each lesson with a review of the previous session’s concepts at the beginning and with suggestions for homework—things to think about and consider with a sociological imagination—at the end. What a valuable contribution to the field, introductory and survey classes, and learners of all stripes that Simmons offers us here!