Hip Hop & the American Constitution - LAWB 6219

Credits Hours: 2

Hip Hop & the American Constitution is a 2-credit course for students who are interested in exploring social justice theory and training in the classroom and have an interest in representing indigent and underrepresented clients. This course includes the study of Fourth Amendment search and seizure law, First Amendment free speech law, constitutional intellectual property protections, as well as mass incarceration, policing, family law and corporate law all through the prism of hip hop music and culture. From its origin, hip hop music and culture have specifically critiqued U.S. law and policy from the perspective of the underrepresented and oppressed. Very specific lyric and album themes criticize and debate constitutional law protections that are enforced disparately and/or unfairly. This course will examine those critiques and challenge students to imagine a less disparate, more fair enforcement of constitutional rights and liberties. This course further provides students an opportunity to explore topics of race, inequality, misogyny, and oppression in the law school classroom

Required: Elective