Grassroots Democracy: Social Movements Since the 1960s
(POLI/WMST/SOSC 16)
Nicky González Yuen, Instructor

"I guess the lesson we learned is that there isn’t always power in having numbers; the power is in the organization of the numbers you have."-- Ryan Stroman, De Anza College Student Activist (Spring '04 organizing project)

Welcome. The quote above is indicative of exactly the kind of lesson I want students to learn: how have people historically organized to fight for peace, equality, racial and social justice, and for an environmentally sustainable world that we can all live in together. And how can these lessons can be applied to our current world?

Our particular focus will be a comparative study of  major movements for social justice in this country since the 1960s: the civil rights movements of African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans,  Latinos/Chicanos; the peace/student movement; the women's liberation movement; and the movement for global and environmental justice.

The class will consist both of academic study and field learning or "civic engagement": academic study because it is vital to have a sound theoretical framework when studying social movements; civic engagement because study in "the field" gives you an opportunity directly to see real humans engaged in organizing around issues of concern in their immediate lives.

The combination of learning methods should give you a richer understanding than one approach alone would offer. You will carry out daily reading and writing assignments which will help you reflect on what you are learning in your field research and you will participate in collaborative learning.

Please read the class syllabus for details about the course operates.

Campus Camp Wellstone Retreat: Also, this class will entail a 2 day class retreat during which we will be joined by other members of the Foothill-De Anza community who are engaged in social movement and social change organizing right here on our campuses as well as within our local communities. This quarter, the retreat dates are from 12:00 noon Friday April 22  to 5:30 PM on Saturday April 23. There is a follow up for the retreat on Friday June 10 from 9 am to 5 30 pm.  PLEASE PLAN NOW TO BE AT THIS IMPORTANT RETREAT. There is a $35.00 fee for the retreat. All meals and overnight accommodations are included in this fee, in part through the generous support of DASB (the De Anza Associated Student Body). Scholarships are available for those in need. Please talk to us about this.

I hope you will enjoy this class. Please be in touch with me with any questions or concerns you have.

Nicky González Yuen, Ph.D, JD
Instructor, Political Science Dept.
De Anza College

"If a teacher does not involve himself, his values, his commitments, in the course of discussion, why should the students?"-- Paul D. Wellstone, Professor of Political Science, Community Organizer, United States Senator (1944-2002)