Our U.S. society and history are unlike any other. We are a nation founded on the lofty ideals of freedom, equality, and rule of law. The ratification of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution affirmed these principles immediately after the divisive Civil War and established higher standards in regards to the meaning of equality and fairness regardless of one’s group membership. The central idea that everyone is equal before the law, if taken seriously, holds the promise for us to work towards a more fair and equitable society. However, our history is simultaneously replete with examples that significantly deviate from such principles. As a nation, we have long struggled with this contradiction, and, the persistence of inequalities continues to pose challenges for us today. Race (relations, conflicts, identities) is one such area where the tension between the promises of these ideals and the lived realities seems to be an enduring feature of an American experience. But, is race, as a concept and reality, so impermeable and complicated that we collectively feel powerless to find a path out of an historical impasse? A part of the solution that this course will propose lies in our commitment to understanding the historical origins of race, its mechanisms and legacy, and the ongoing impact in shaping institutions, social relations, and identities. This seminar-course seeks to uncover how the concept of race originated, surveys key historical moments when race took the center stage, and commissions us to struggle together to figure out ways to move forward as a society.