1. Unit 1: Identity and Membership Lesson 3: Identity and Race
Facing History and Ourselves
Mr. Perry

2. Key Terms
Race
Stereotype

3. Lesson 3 In your journal complete this sentence
Race is …

4. Definition of Race
A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics
Race is a social idea, this means the way we group people isn’t based on nature, but on our ideas

5. “Race” and Science page 13-15
How would you react should you find out that you were considered a different “race” than what you had always identified with?
Is Susie Phipps overreacting in your opinion?
Should it be the role of the state to group its citizens with classifications such as “race”?

6. “Little Things are Big” Jesus Colon
How does “race” affect Colon’s actions?
Does time of day affect Colon’s decision? Would he have acted differently had she been in trouble?
Is Colon an upstander, bystander or perpetrator?
Why does he have regrets and did he make the right decision?
Is there a victim in this story?
How would this scenario play out on Memorial Day in 2017?

7. Online Exercise PBS Website: Race: The Power of Illusion
Follow these steps:
“Begin Sorting” and “Exploring Traits”
Read the fact sheet, “What is Race?”
Complete the online quiz and “Explore Diversity” (Under Sorting People tab)

8. Stereotyping: Page 16-18
Compare the two stories in the reading, what effect did stereotyping have on each?
Can you think of any stereotypes you believe in?
Can “positive” stereotypes be as damaging as negative?

9. “A Class Divided”: 4 Paragraph Essay Due Friday
Journal your thoughts during the video.
Summary of the Classroom experiment and your reactions to it. Was it effective? Did you find Jane Elliott’s actions appropriate with such young students? What did you learn from hearing the students reflect on the experience years later?
Summary of the workshop experiment. Was it effective? What obstacles did Jane Elliot have to overcome?
Compare the classroom experiment to the workshop. Which was more effective? Should similar workshops be used today in schools and to help fight workplace discrimination?
Does someone have to experience discrimination firsthand to understand the effect that it has?
Video