When I was writing my last blog post THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COLOUR, I had no idea that my next one would celebrate COLOUR again.
For the last week or so we have seen such an upheaval of emotions- anger, grief, compassion and strong desire for change. Not only did George Floyd´s death spark massive protests but it was also another wake-up call for all of us to make the world a better place.
Social media has been flooded with BLACK images and posts filled with strong emotional pain that hurt tremendously and touched my soul deeply. Black is an interesting colour, isn´t it? In many cultures it is associated with death, mourning, and grief but NOW I feel we have to be appreciative of this dark colour as without it we won´t be able to see the Light. And I believe that there´s LIGHT at the end of the tunnel and we, educators, have the power to spread it around the world. We make conscious choices every day before we begin a class and I am sure that most of us choose to be light workers, the ones who teach the students how to be more loving, caring and compassionate. As my student said in her essay, we need to be able to see “the colour of hope and the colour of unity”.
Read my student´s touching story in my last blog post
So in today´s post I have collected some of my favourite videos and activities that you can use to teach your students about racism, equality and compassion.
Young learners
1. Share the powerful story about Rosa Parks, the woman who dared not to give up her seat on the bus.
2. Teach about Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana in 1960.
Show this video to teach about life in the USA in the 1960s and what made Ruby Bridges´ story so special.
There´s a great book about Ruby, called "The Story of Ruby Bridges". However, if you can´t find it, here´s a video in which a teacher reads it to her students.
Young teens
1. Use the video below to show what racism means nowadays. It could be a great way to introduce vocabulary and talk about inequality.
2. Read the book Henry's Freedom Box, based on a true story:
Older teens/adults
1. Here's a short video with Ruby Bridges who shares the Key to Overcoming Racism
2. Here´s a very interesting BBC video in which historian Onyeka Nubia explores why some people are racist. He also shares his own experiences of racism.
3. Shared Identity- a Writing activity which encourages generosity by finding commonalities between people
What other resources do you use with your students to celebrate the colours of UNITY? Leave a comment below.
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And finally, I would like to share Leslie Dwight´s inspiring poem:
What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for?
A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw — that it finally forces us to grow. A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber. A year we finally accept the need for change. Declare change. Work for change. Become the change.
A year we finally band together, instead of pushing each other further apart. 2020 isn’t cancelled, but rather the most important year of them all.”
Until we meet again, be blessed
Marusya Price
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