ETHNICITY UNIT
What is the definition of "race?"
A social construct used to divide people into populations or groups based on physical appearance, such as skin color.
Come, come, my little skylark must not droop her wings. What is this? Is my little squirrel out of temper?
Torvald talking to his wife, Nora, in his typical demeaning manner.
treachery, deceitfulness
a) duplicity
b) averse
duplicity
Discuss the pressures in the stories to feel accepted that appear in the stories we have read.
examples:
the boy in "No Boundaries"
the girl in "Practice and Perfection"
Nora and Christine in "Doll's House"
Coates in "Between the World and Me"
What is the shape of a teardrop?
It is spherical, not teardrop-shaped.
An important topic in "Why are all the Black Kids sitting together in the Cafeteria" is the idea that many white people don't seem to think they are. Why is this?
potential answers:
"whiteness" is simply considered the unexamined norm.
some white people think racial identify as something other people have
there is a lot of silence about race in white communities because it's an uncomfortable topic
My poor mother needs me more more. . . and the boys can shift for themselves. . .
What a relief you must feel -
No indeed; I only feel my life unspeakably empty. No one to live for anymore.
Mrs. Linde talking with Nora. She is so used to living for other people, she does not know how to focus on herself.
lukewarm, unenthusiastic, lack of interest.
a) meticulous
b) tepid
tepid
Give two examples of people asserting their own identity in the stories.
Nora in "Doll's House"
girl in "Practice and Perfection"
boy in "Summer of Beautiful White Horse"
Harrison in "Harrison Bergeron"
Peter in "Little Brother"
Coates in "Between World and Me"
How much of our brain do we use?
100% (or 3%)
a common saying claims we only use 10% of our brains.
In fact, all of the human brain is used at one time or another, but only 3% of the neurons are firing at a given moment. Anything over that takes up too much energy and requires a "reset."
What is the concept of the "Dark Fantastic" in fantasy literature?
Evil creatures as usually portrayed as dark, and good characters as white. This reinforces racist stereotyping. Even when good characters are represented by people of color, many viewers struggle with this.
He told me his opinion about everything and so I had the same opinions; and if I differed from him I concealed the fact. . . He called me is doll-child, and he played with me just as I used to play with my dolls.
Nora, realizing that both her father and then her husband have controlled her and not allowed her to become her own person.
cowardly
a) coerse
b) craven
Give at least two examples of people feeling they do not have power or control over their own lives in the stories we've read.
Nora
Peter from Little Brother
Coates from Between the World and Me
Boy from Pep Assembly
What do dolphins drink?
They don't drink at all.
They get their liquid from their food and by burning body fat, which releases water.
Ta-Nehisi Coates writes his book in order to educate who about his life and experiences with racism?
his son.
"After watching the Hunger Games preview six times in a row, I realized Rue is black. Whaaat?! #shocked
from Dark Fantastic -
example of a Tweet of a reader having trouble with the casting of a person of color to play a major character in the movie.
inflicting or aiming at punishment
a) punitive
b) harass
punitive
Give an example of a person in one of the stories exercising their power. Did they use it for good, or ill?
Peter from Little Brother
Boy from Summer of Beautiful White Horse
Harrison from Harrison Bergeron
Torvald, Krogtad and Nora from Doll's House
What student was in our class for only the first week of school before they had to transfer?
Minh
What is White Privilege?
systematic, societal advantages of being white
"The parts of our identity that do capture our attention are those that other people notice, and that reflect back to us. The aspect of identity that is the target of others' attention, and subsequently our own, often is that which sets us apart as exceptional or "other" in their eyes." (102)
Why are all the Black Kids sitting together in the Cafeteria?
example of how our identities are formed by people noticing what makes us stand out or be different. (and this in turn becomes a "negative" quality)
to enliven, cheer, give spirit
a)urbane
b) exhilarate
exhilarate
Discuss what kind of world the characters in the stories live in. Is the world a good place, a bad place, a little of both?
wide variety of answers
Who do Eleanor and Kingsley tease every day in class?
Each other.