2025 Fall
MELC 117AC 001 - LEC 001
Formerly Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 117
The Origins of Racism in the West
Yonatan Binyam
Class #:33776
Units: 4
Instruction Mode:
In-Person Instruction
Offered through
Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures
Current Enrollment
Total Open Seats:
33
Enrolled: 2
Waitlisted: 0
Capacity: 35
Waitlist Max: 10
No Reserved Seats
Hours & Workload
9 hours of outside work hours per week, and 3 hours of instructor presentation of course materials per week.
Other classes by Yonatan Binyam
Course Catalog Description
This course provides students an opportunity to investigate the similarities and differences between premodern and modern group identity narratives. Premodern narratives of peoplehood will be analyzed alongside modern racial narratives utilizing a comparative approach to reading primary sources, coupled with a critical engagement with secondary sources on the issues of racism, race, ethnicity, and religion. The course will focus on narratives related to Western Civilization, Whiteness, Anti-Blackness, Antisemitism, Orientalism, and Islamophobia. It will also cover some of the parallels and differences between Western ideologies of racism and Antisemitism and those found in certain parts of the premodern Islamic world and the Middle East.
Rules & Requirements
Repeat Rules
Course is not repeatable for credit.
Requirements class fulfills
Meets Historical Studies, L&S Breadth
Meets Philosophy & Values, L&S Breadth
American Cultures Requirement
Reserved Seats
Current Enrollment
No Reserved Seats
Textbooks & Materials
See class syllabus or https://calstudentstore.berkeley.edu/textbooks for the most current information.
Guide to Open, Free, & Affordable Course Materials
Associated Sections
None