Racial Autobiography Curriculum Unit
Products of Our Town: Using Theory to Create Racial Identity Autobiographies and Explore Social Justice
Danaé O’Bryan EDU 6051: Race & Ethnicity 21 October 2011 Final Action Plan Assignment
Products of Our Town: Using Theory to Create Racial Identity Autobiographies and Explore Social Justice
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Contents: Introduction to the Action Plan Project Stage 1 For Project/Unit Unit Outline Sample Lesson 1 & Handout(s) Sample Lesson 2 & Handout(s) Sample Lesson 3 & Handout(s) Sample Lesson 4 & Handout(s) Culminating Performance Task Resources
Page Number 3 4 6 7 9 13 18 23 25
Products of Our Town: Using Theory to Create Racial Identity Autobiographies and Explore Social Justice
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Introduction to the Action Plan: Welcome to my action plan! This curricular approach to creating an anti-racist classroom experience was designed for four ninth grade classes at Malden High School in Malden, Massachusetts. The lessons attached to this action plan are anchored in the Massachusetts Common Core Curriculum Frameworks (2010). Upon first glance at the demographics of Malden High School it is easy to assume that the school has successfully integrated various racial minority and majority groups into its system (African American or Black - 22.2%, Asian - 22.7, Hispanic or Latino - 17.6%, Multi-race, Non-Hispanic - 2.7%, Native American - 0.6%, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander - 0.1%, White - 34.2%). However, there is still a lack of knowledge among students regarding their own racial identity and the experiences of others of different race and ethnic groups. In Northeastern University’s Race & Ethnicity course the idea of “colorblindness” was discussed at length as being something as powerfully ineffective as racism itself. At Malden High School students of differing racial groups sort of “coexist,” which is something I hope this action plan will begin to change through students’ awareness of racial identity development. Fortunately, the 9th grade curriculum for
Danaé O’Bryan EDU 6051: Race & Ethnicity 21 October 2011 Final Action Plan Assignment
Products of Our Town: Using Theory to Create Racial Identity Autobiographies and Explore Social Justice
1
Contents: Introduction to the Action Plan Project Stage 1 For Project/Unit Unit Outline Sample Lesson 1 & Handout(s) Sample Lesson 2 & Handout(s) Sample Lesson 3 & Handout(s) Sample Lesson 4 & Handout(s) Culminating Performance Task Resources
Page Number 3 4 6 7 9 13 18 23 25
Products of Our Town: Using Theory to Create Racial Identity Autobiographies and Explore Social Justice
2
Introduction to the Action Plan: Welcome to my action plan! This curricular approach to creating an anti-racist classroom experience was designed for four ninth grade classes at Malden High School in Malden, Massachusetts. The lessons attached to this action plan are anchored in the Massachusetts Common Core Curriculum Frameworks (2010). Upon first glance at the demographics of Malden High School it is easy to assume that the school has successfully integrated various racial minority and majority groups into its system (African American or Black - 22.2%, Asian - 22.7, Hispanic or Latino - 17.6%, Multi-race, Non-Hispanic - 2.7%, Native American - 0.6%, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander - 0.1%, White - 34.2%). However, there is still a lack of knowledge among students regarding their own racial identity and the experiences of others of different race and ethnic groups. In Northeastern University’s Race & Ethnicity course the idea of “colorblindness” was discussed at length as being something as powerfully ineffective as racism itself. At Malden High School students of differing racial groups sort of “coexist,” which is something I hope this action plan will begin to change through students’ awareness of racial identity development. Fortunately, the 9th grade curriculum for
Cited: Useful Websites: EdChange – (Edchange.org) This website provides great tools for overcoming racism in schools and promoting diversity in curriculum. Media Awareness Netwrok – (media-awareness.ca) provides an extensive list of resources for digital media literacy. This program seeks to help educaters, families, and other organizations produce awareness of the responsible way to comsume media. ReadWriteThink – (readwritethink.org) – Another great resource for lesson planning, professional development, and grade-appropriate planning ideas. Useful articles and books: Pollock, M (2008). Everyday antiracism: getting real about race in school New York: The New Press. Tatum, B. (1992) Talking about racism, learning about race: The application of racial identitdy development theory. Harvard Educational Review. 62 (1) Tatum, B. (1997) Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? Basic Books. New York. Products of Our Town: Using Theory to Create Racial Identity Autobiographies and Explore Social Justice 25