Facing discrimination | Stories that Move

• Citizenship
• 7-9 Grade
• 9-12 Grade

Introduction

In this lesson, students examine how discrimination happens, who is responsible and what actions you can take if you witness or are a victim of discrimination. They focus on the stories of two young people who have experienced discrimination, and explore their own reactions through questions and exercises.

Instructions

Tip: Watch the two videos yourself beforehand.

Stories that Move is a free online tool for teaching about diversity and discrimination, based on real stories and experiences of young people. You can use this lesson to introduce how Stories that Move works. If you feel inspired, have a look at www.storiesthatmove.org, where you can register for free. An account gives access to all the Stories that Move videos and teaching materials.

Facing discrimination

Discrimination is unequal treatment based on 

someone’s ancestry, religion, gender, 

sexuality or (dis)ability.

In this lesson you hear from two young people who have experienced discrimination, you explore who is responsible for the discrimination 

and discuss what you personally could do to stop it.

Brief description of the lesson for the students.

What forms of discrimination are you aware of? 

Give three examples.

Activate what students already know. Get them to write down the words that occur to them when they think of different types of discrimination.

Discuss the responses and let students explore connections between the various words. Are your students already aware of different forms of discrimination?

Some you could name:

• Racism, discrimination against people of colour
  
• Discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people
  
• Discrimination against Muslims
  
• Antisemitism, discrimination against Jews
  
• Discrimination against Roma/Sinti 
  
• Discrimination against people of Asian descent

Watch the video in which Tyrell describes his reaction to racist remarks from  classmates at school. Students who experience this often feel powerless. This makes it harder for them to speak out.

Pick one word that expresses how you feel about this story

Students are often inclined to judge or analyse the story. The aim of this exercise is to reflect on their own response to this personal story. Ask the students to write down one word that describes how they felt watching the clip.

Discuss the responses and let students explore connections between the various replies. Pull them together if necessary.

Watch the video of Priscilla talking about when a passer-by at a station made a racist remark about her and a friend. A group of people nearby heard it, stepped in and defended Priscilla and her friend.

Pick one word that expresses how you feel about this story

Students are often inclined to judge or analyse the story. The aim of this exercise is to reflect on their own response to this personal story. Ask the students to write down one word that describes how they felt watching the clip.

Discuss the responses and let students explore connections between the various replies. Pull them together if necessary.

Name one difference between Tyrell’s story and Priscilla’s

Discuss several answers.

Differences you can name between the two stories: 

• In Priscilla’s case a bystander stepped in, in Tyrell’s no one helped. Priscilla feels supported as a result
• Tyrell was at school with classmates, Priscilla was at a station with strangers. 

Name one similarity between Tyrell’s and Priscilla’s stories.

Discuss several answers.

Similarities you can name between Priscilla’s and Tyrell’s stories: 

• Both were discriminated against because of their background/heritage
• Both experienced the discrimination as shocking and nasty

Discuss in pairs.

Pick either Tyrell’s story or Priscilla’s and answer the following questions: 

1. How is he or she seen as ‘other’ and by whom?

2. What judgment is being made about him or her?

3. Do you recognise anything in this story?

Get students to discuss the questions in pairs.

Should you always step in when you see discrimination taking place?

Yes

No

Ask several students to explain their answers.

Note! There is no right or wrong answer. It is about sharing thoughts on the different possibilities for action for victims and witnesses of discrimination.

Csaba

I feel bad when people say something that isn’t true about people like me.

Finish with the photograph and quote from Csaba.

You could additionally discuss Csaba’s quote with the class. What might he mean?

Do you want to learn more about how discrimination works and how it influences young people's life?

Go to www.storiesthatmove.org

learning path Facing discrimination

Csaba

Luister naar zijn verhaal

Salma

Luister naar haar verhaal

Anna

Luister naar haar verhaal

Matías

Luister naar zijn verhaal

Daniel

Luister naar zijn verhaal

A possible follow-up to this lesson is to do Learning Path 2: Facing discrimination in the Stories that Move toolbox. Here students can choose another voice to learn about how discrimination works and how it influenced their life.

Have a look at www.storiesthatmove.org and set up a free account. This gives access to all the video clips and materials on Stories that Move.