White by Law: The Legal Construction of Race

Compare and contrast Ozawa and Thind, focusing on the Supreme Court’s rationale in each case. How did Thind contradict the rationale of Ozawa, while also maintaining racism?

Discuss the significance of Wong Kim Ark. How does this Supreme Court case relate to current debates about the 14th Amendment?

Citing specific examples, address the role of legal actors in constructing and maintaining race. How did unconscious bias influence judges in prerequisite cases?

How were immigration laws gendered in the late-19th and early-20th century? What do these laws reveal about the status of women in this period?

What iswhite transparency? Why is it harmful? How can it be overcome?

What is the relationship between the legal system and racial violence? How does the legal system perpetuate racism and constructs of race?

What is white race-consciousness? Why is it necessary for social justice?

Discuss the legacy of racial prerequisite cases in relation to the preservation of racial categories and current systems of oppression.