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Research in: Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

A guide to research for classes in the CRES department

About This Guide

About This Guide

This Library Resource guide is designed to aid you in research conducted as part of your coursework in the CRES department here at Holy Cross. It may also be helpful to you in other classes, as it contains general guidance on conducting research around race, ethnicity, and Critical Race studies. If you have any questions or feedback about this guide and it's content, please contact aroselieb@holycross.edu

What is Critical Race and Ethnic Studies?

Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at College of the Holy Cross

"The Critical Race and Ethnic Studies (CRES) program at Holy Cross focuses on the study of race, racialization and racism across the globe. Drawing on scholarly expertise about race and ethnicity across several disciplines, CRES offers a uniquely interdisciplinary plan of study that allows students to approach these topics from multiple perspectives. CRES courses provide a space for students to discuss, reflect upon, and analyze how different populations have been racialized, how structural racism operates, and why race continues to be a relevant yet controversial topic of study." - Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Department, College of the Holy Cross. 

Glossary of Terms

Critical Race Theory (Legal Studies): Progressive legal movement that seeks to transform the relationship among race, racism, and power.

Critical Race Theory (In Education): Scholarly movement that applies critical race theory to issues in the field of education, including high-stakes testing, affirmative action, hierarchy in schools, tracking and school discipline, bilingual and multicultural education, and the debate over ethnic studies and the Western canon.

Ethnic Studies: An interdisciplinary area of study that is focused on critically examining the perspectives, cultures, and histories of minoritized people of color through national, transnational, and diasporic frameworks.

Decolonization/Decolonial Studies: Decolonization seeks to remedy and (where possible) reverse the impacts and persistent harms of colonization. It refers to the struggle for self-determination and sovereignty. In academic contexts, debates on Decolonization recognize that academic institutions are built on colonial principles, which still permeate how we teach and research. The academic study of decolonization efforts is referred to as Decolonization or Decolonial studies. 

Definitions compiled from the following sources:

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Books at Holy Cross Libraries are arranged by Library of Congress Call Number.

The Library of Congress call number system not only helps you find specific resources within our collections, but can also help you browse titles in different subject areas. We encourage you to explore the stacks frequently, because you never know what you will find! At Dinand, call numbers A through G are on the upper (Mezzanine) level. Call numbers H through Z are on the lower (Ground) level, with a few exceptions. Call numbers beginning with "M" are located in the Music Library and “Q, R, S, T” are in the Science Library. 

Each letter in the call number system covers a subject area. For example, P is the call number range for Language and Literature. Each letter is then broken down into subclasses. For example, the call number range for P has subclasses from PA to PZ. This includes PR for English literature and PS for American literature. PN is the subclass for “Literature (General)” which includes important works, such as resources for literary theory and history.

For more information about Library of Congress Classification, please see the Library of Congress' Classification Outline.

Watch this video to learn how to find and check out library books in Dinand

Watch this video to learn more about reading Call numbers

Stacks Browsing Tips for CRES

Critical Race and Ethnic Studies is a little different than other academic disciplines in that it does not have just one section of the library where it can be found. CRES materials can be found all throughout the social sciences, fiction, and even science and mathematical materials. There are still a few ways you can browse for CRES topics however:

  1. Search the library catalog online for CRES topics
    • Try searching "Critical Race" or "Ethnic Studies" in the library catalog and see what comes up. When you find a book you think fits your information need, you can use that call number to go down stairs and browse that section for books on the same topic. Remember - like topic materials are shelved together!
  2. Explore the Library of Congress subject headings list for topics in CRES you are interested in
    • Library of Congress is the system we use at Holy Cross to organize our physical collections. It employs subject headings to define each item in a library catalog, which generally makes finding materials around specific topics easier. However, this system was designed by white cisgender men in power, and very much reflects that bias in it's subject headings. This means you must be creative in how you search for materials. Consult the list of call numbers and their subjects in library of congress (linked below) and see whether you can locate a likely section for materials on your topic. To learn more about bias in Library of Congress subject headings, check out the suggested reading below.

 

What is Inter Library Loan?

Inter library loan (ILL) is a completely free service where you can request books from other libraries to be delivered here for you to check out! Both physical resources and e-resources can be ordered through this system, and again it is completely free of charge. Watch the video below to learn more about how it works.