From the very moment the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, they were not only interested in who belonged in the United States, but also in who did not. In the nineteenth century, questions of “assimilation” and “Americanization” became prominent. This three-part online mini-course will explore African American and Jewish literary texts that engage issues of racial passing and belonging in the United States. The course will be taught by Bildner Visiting Scholar Donavan L. Ramon, Department of English, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Readings will be posted in advance.