Why does educational inequality persist in the United States, and how does schooling reflect, and shape, broader patterns of social inequality? This course explores the sociology of education with a special focus on the relationship between race, education, and American society. Much of the course will examine the historical and contemporary educational experiences of Native Americans and Black Americans. We begin by examining the philosophical origins of American education and the ways in which historical struggles over race have produced enduring inequalities. We then turn to contemporary research, analyzing how inequality emerges and compounds over time. Along the way, we will consider how schools both challenge and reproduce broader social hierarchies, as well as how educational opportunities and barriers shape life chances.