 Topics and Competencies
Awareness of Structural Inequality, Knowledge of Identity-General Characteristics of Inequality
Grade Level
Middle Grades, High School, College/Adult
Subject Area Integration
None |
Author(s)
Christy M. Byrd
Source
Adapted from the Program on Intergroup Relations, University of Michigan, and Kaplowitz, D. R., Griffin, S. R., & Seyka, S. (2019). Race dialogues: A facilitator’s guide to tackling the elephant in the classroom. Teachers College Press.
Date Created/Most Recently Revised
Unknown/March 2021 |
Time
30-60 minutes, depending on group size
Setting
Most appropriate for in-person settings |
Type and Level of Engagement
Group Work, High Engagement
Accessibility
|
Learning Objectives
- Understand the multiple ways individuals participate in discrimination
- Reflect on one’s own experiences with discrimination as a victim, perpetrator, and witness
Materials
- You may wish to organize the room into four areas and place the appropriate prompt on a sheet of paper or giant sticky-note near each grouping
Instructions
- Divide the participants into four groups. They will remain in these same groups throughout the activity.
- Ask each group to go to one area and discuss the prompt. Give enough time for each person to share an experience, approximately 2-5 minutes. Ask participants to not interrupt each other and to only ask clarifying questions. Remind participants of any guidelines established for the setting.
- Prompts:
- Share a time when you were discriminated against because of your social identity. How did it make you feel then and how do you feel about it now? If you have not experienced discrimination, why do you think that is?
- Share a time when you discriminated against someone else because of their social identity. It may have been accidental or unintentional. How did it make you feel then and how do you feel about it now?
- Share a time when you witnessed someone being discriminated against because of their social identity and you intervened. How did it make you feel then and how do you feel about it now?
- Share a time when you witnessed someone being discriminated against because of their social identity and you did not intervene. How did it make you feel then and how do you feel about it now?
- Have each group rotate through each area.
- When everyone has had a chance to discuss each prompt, debrief in the large group:
- How did it feel to talk about each situation?
- Which corner was easiest to talk about? Which was hardest?
- Were there things you did not want to talk about? Did not want to hear?
Variations
- You may want to place a facilitator in each group to assist in managing the discussion and potential emotions that occur during this activity.
- You may want to focus on a particular social identity, such as race, instead of allowing participants to choose the type of discrimination.
Extensions
Assessments
Evidence of Effectiveness
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