Race, Civil Liberties, and National Security – Professor Lee
(78463) 9200:684-801
Thursdays 6:40 – 9:40 P.M.
This seminar explores the intersection of a kind of profiling that is considered wrongful—race discrimination—with a kind of profiling that is considered not only appropriate but essential—profiling in support of national security efforts. We will focus in particular on an extended case study of one of the most notorious incidents in American history that combines both features: the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Although the general facts are broadly known, the particulars are not well understood. Rather than being an isolated idiosyncratic event, the internment had both historical antecedents and an extensive legacy that continues into modern controversies, especially in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. We will compare and contrast these historical materials with more recent issues culled from current sources. In the context of racial justice, the course addresses a serious question raised by recent events: What rights must we sacrifice in order to keep us safe?