According to Professor Takaki, the phrase "a lecture within a lecture" means teaching an off-shoot of a topic within a major topic. For instance, in this case, Professor Takaki teaches about the immigration of the Irish and Chinese women within a larger perspective of American history. He illustrates the manner in which the British colonialists displaced the Irish from their land leading to massive immigration of the Irish women from Europe to America.
According to Critical Race Theory, why is storytelling an important part of challenging hegemonic power and the master narrative?
Storytelling is an important part of challenging hegemonic power. The theory of hegemonic power asserts that the international political system will only remain stable if a single nation-state or hegemony dominates the rest. This nation-state must stay in power for the global political system to remain stable. This theory is flawed and only subjects other nation-states to slavery. Storytelling shows the nature of life and political systems in different countries before the dominant state imposes their rule on them. It is clear that most states are mostly stable and cooperate with other nations in a peaceful manner before the dominant power begins ruling the "weaker" states. This theory is evident in the way in which the British had imposed themselves on other states as the dominant power.
Epistemology
Epistemology is a theory of knowledge and investigation that challenges popular opinion and belief with critical analysis of issues. It is a logical and rational study of issues without relying on popular opinion. Its popular thought that the potato famine triggered the Irish immigration to America. On closer inspection, one finds out that it is the British colonial policies that rendered the Irish economy useless thus pushing to seek for better prospects in the new found land.
Hegemonic
The hegemonic theory is a body of knowledge that presupposes that the international political system can only remain stable if one powerful nation is in control of the others. The British Empire had set in people’s find that it was the central world power. The world soon dismissed this idea as different nations fought and gained independence from the British.
Superfluous
Superfluous in this context is a complete annihilation of a people’s economic system rendering those people helpless and dependent. The British colonists rendered the Irish economy superfluous.
