Does anyone know of any racist or discriminative scenarios I can present to my class?

Question

I want to present some racist or discriminative scenarios involving different races to my class so that they can try to come up with some sort of solution and present it to the class.

Answer 1

I think that you need to be extremely careful.  This is a highly-charged area, and while I can see that you mean well, children can often misinterpret your intentions.  While you may be trying to teach them to resolve racism, they may think you are being racist just by bringing up "scenarios" and not listen to the rest.  If you can't even think up your own scenarios, I would worry that this could get completely out of hand.  

I find it interesting as well that the people who did give you suggestions gave historical ones from 50 or more years ago.  What about more current situations?  Excellent employees who are not given a promotion at work because their "appearance" is not "up to corporate standards", because they wear braids or traditional garb.  People who go to rent apartments and when they show up are told that the apartment has already been rented (when White folks who call later are shown the apartment).  Muslim girls who are told they cannot participate in sports because they wear headscarves, which "could be dangerous".  Families who are seated at back tables by the kitchen in casual dining restaurants and are ignored by waitstaff because it is assumed that they won't tip as well.  Or even the positive racist incidents - Asians who are assumed to be good at math, African-Americans who are assumed to play basketball or be good dancers, etc.

Answer 2

Tell the story of Jackie Robinson, the first black to play in the big leagues.  He took physical and mental punishment from all the white players, but he resisted by not fighting back, but showing them up with his baseball playing skills.

Answer 3

the rosa parks bus incident

Answer 4

I just ask question be four in section here coz i need help with english. but i think that some people be mean, u look at question, it say, "need help with english"

Answer 5

Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King, Rodney King, Bosnian Ethnic Cleansing, Somalia Ethnic Cleansing, Adolf Hitler's n**i Party Ethnic Cleansing, Mussolini, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

Answer 6

Although the previous respondents did offer some good suggestions -as well as advice on being cautious before venturing into this subject matter, I'd like to recommend you consider staying away from the particular scenarios and actually go back to the official founding of this nation (United States) and have your students reflect on the facts:

(1) America was founded -via revolution- by those who refused to kowtow to the English Throne

(2) When it comes time to structure the governance of the new nation, it is named a republic and the process of governance is suppose to be "democratic" and include "we the people."

(3) The fact is, the process was never inclusive -or democratic- and the only major change (between the motherland and the new America) was that America was not a monarchy.  However, the form of governance was much like the structure of a monarachy in that only "elitists" got to set policy, craft law, and establish precedent.

(4) The first official census of the United States was in 1790, fourteen years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and it recorded about 3.9 million people.  

And here's where it gets absurd -and discriminatory ... although slaves were counted, it was only as three-fifths of a citizen AND Native American Indians weren't counted at all.

(5) Combine that with the fact that women were not allowed to vote (this is founding republic now -one that proclaims it split from England because of the restrictions imposed by a monarchy- and MOST of the citizens are not permitted a voice [vote]) and it's easy to see that the facts of our nation's beginning -once separated from the myths- show a Euro-centric bias that gives credence (in this new government) only to white males -predominately- landowners.

In my view, the founding of the country and the establishment of polices, rules, and governance was the most racist, sexist, and discriminatory behavior that could have occurred -and it did under the so-called brillence and foresight of the founding fathers.

(6) Today, 232 years after the beginning of this American experiment, the nation is still plaugued by racism, sexisim, and of course, classism.  

To allow your students to read, reflect, and respond to this overarching scenario that shaped the country then and now, to me, is the best way to have our students come to understand the history of discrimination across several layers and then consider solutions based on the totality of those behaviors as opposed to a single scenario.

Have fun ... and kudos to you for wanting to openly discuss these issues with your students!

Answer 7

Try the blue eyes brown eyes game. Or reference it.

It was quite revolutionary at the time; still has lasting effects.