By the end of the course, the students will have had an introductory discussion to the themes such as racism, anti-racism, whiteness, media activism, their intersections with media and communication and how these processes relate to different social contexts around the world.

In recent years, Black, Brown and other racialized people have used different forms of media platforms online and offline (a) to contest racism, (b) to defend racial and ethnic identities and (c) to value social memories and cultural heritages. Directly or indirectly, these actions simultaneously also contest whiteness and push for more plural and decolonized institutions (e.g. universities, media organizations, civil society organizations, development organizations and so on). The “Race, Media and Society” course brings together activists and scholars who theorize and/or act against racism to reflect on the contemporary landscape of anti-racism uses of media in Finland and abroad. The goal of the course is to combine theories and practical experiences that explore the intersections between communication and anti-racism action. 

The course is part of the initiatives of the Anti-Racism Media Activist Alliance (ARMA), a three-year project (2018-2020) funded by Kone Foundation.

The evaluation consists of short, weekly learning diaries in which registered participants reflect upon pre-assigned texts and lectures.