Race
What is the Black Lives Matter movement? Describe its purpose & anything else you know about it.
Mission: "Black Lives Matter is working inside and outside of the system to heal the past, reimagine the present, and invest in the future of Black lives through policy change, investment in our communities, and a commitment to arts and culture."
Basically: Promotes anti-racism efforts (sometimes as policy changes), fights against police brutality, & works to appreciate & uplift Black people
In general, how are expectations for men & women (or girls and boys) different?
Possible answers:
Men- be assertive, don't cry (be strong)
Women- be passive, do the less "glamorous" work
What is identity?
"Identity refers to our sense of who we are as individuals and as members of social groups."
Who is the current president? Who is the vice president? Who were the main 2 candidates for this year’s election? (A team only needs to answer all of these Q’s if they got the first easily)
Current president- Joe Biden
Vice president- Kamala Harris
2 candidates for this year's election- Donald Trump (with JD Vance) & Kamala Harris (with Tim Walz)
What are stereotypes?
Google says, "A stereotype is a generalized belief about a group of people, often based on characteristics like age, race, gender, or occupation. Stereotypes can be positive, negative, or neutral, but they are often inaccurate and resistant to new information."
How can race bring people together? How can race divide people?
Bring ppl together: ppl of the same race can talk about their experiences & ppl of different races can unite with the interest of learning about each others' experiences
Divide people: ppl of different races don't want to hear each others' perspectives & ppl of same race sometimes want to disassociate themselves with their racial identity by trying to avoid ppl of their same race
Many other answers are possible!
What is feminism?
Feminism is about all genders having equal rights & opportunities.
True/False- Your identity is made of 3 things: your race, gender, and ethnicity (especially where you/your family is from).
False!
How many branches does the government have? Don't name them; that's another question
3
What is/are the difference(s) between rights & privileges?
Right- something every human being is entitled to (some under the Constitution)
Privilege- An advantage you have but others don't because of their identity
How can one’s race affect their daily life?
Negative effects: microaggressions, having to act/dress a certain way for safety & respect, feeling "othered"
Positive effects: feeling included bc ppl share your race or bc your environment appreciates diversity, sharing racial/cultural experiences
Many other ideas possible!
Does gender influence the way we grow up (the way our parents raise us & teachers teach us)?
Yes!
Tell us 3 facts about your identity. (This seems very basic, but I think it’s important for kids to conceptualize identity & apply it to themselves)
...obviously many different answers :)
Name the 3 branches of the government.
Executive, judicial, legislative
What are microaggressions?
Small, subtle, sometimes unintended acts of discrimination
What is the difference between being “not racist” & “anti-racist”?
Anti-Racist: you are actively fighting against racism
Not Racist: you're not actively fighting against racism (people often say this if they simply want people not to call them a racist but they don't want to actively work to end racism)
Why/in what ways is diverse gender representation important?
Example: girls can see a woman in a high position of power on TV and say "wow! so I can do that, too!"
Can 1 aspect of someone’s identity explain ALL of their privileges & struggles?
No
Can the Constitution be changed? If so, how? If not, why?
Yes. It can be amended. According to the White House website: "An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both Houses of Congress, or, if two-thirds of the States request one, by a convention called for that purpose. The amendment must then be ratified by three-fourths of the State legislatures, or three-fourths of conventions called in each State for ratification."
What could be the purpose of a protest?
Many answers:
To get a bill passed into law, to fight against a Supreme Court decision, to support a national/international movement
Why/how is diverse racial representation important?
Possible answers: children of color can look at diverse groups of ppl in high positions of power and think "wow, so I can do that, too!" & ppl of various races all feel represented when policies are being made in government
What is intersectional feminism?
What feminism should always be...taking into account how women of different identities (race/religion/class) experience sexism & how feminism can help them, too.
Can a part of someone’s identity change? Give examples.
Yes (religious views, gender, etc)
Even more changes are possible when we consider interests & hobbies that make up a person's identity!
Who determines state laws?
State legislatures (senators & state representatives)
How can you implement social justice (or the habit of pushing for a more equitable society) into your daily life?
Many possible ideas...think big & small for this one! It's a great question to consider as we begin to brainstorm projects (ways of taking action) for this year.