Lesson Title: Stereotypes, Self-Image, and Bullying
(PTI pgs 67 - 117 / KK pgs 74 – 128)
Time Frame: one class
Overarching Theme for the Year –
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How can we understand things (stories, novels, situations, people) better by
looking at those things from another person’s perspective?
Essential Question for the Unit –
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How do communities and their expectations shape our lives?
Materials – 60 Minutes Jeremy Lin interview / Politically Lin-correct /
Overview –
1) Review and Preview – Last class we thought about the problems with judging
people or portraying people as a stereotype (in either the Halloween Culture is not
a costume lesson / or Native Mascots). Today we will continue and expand on this
thinking about what it’s like to see yourself and your culture through racist
stereotypes.
2) The “Joke”
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Read PTI pg 64 from “and yeah” to “but I was scared.” Then skip down to
“Hey chief” and read until “I was absolutely confused” pg 65. Censor the
language of the joke, but let the kids know the essence of what it says without
saying it aloud.
Instructor explains exactly how and why this is an incredibly racist joke, and put into a
bit of historical context.
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Is there a better way Arnold could have handled the situation, but get similar
results? If not, explain why. (group discuss, then class)
3) Jeremy Lin and #RepresentationMatters
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Explain: Jeremy Lin is currently an NBA player on the Lakers. More than 300
division schools passed on him and he got no athletic scholarships. He ended
up playing for Harvard University, which has had only three other graduates
go on to the NBA, the most recent one being in the 1950s. No NBA team
wanted Lin in the draft after he graduated from Harvard. After a lot of sitting
the bench for a few teams he finally got his chance and showed what an
incredible player he is.
We have to consider: Was he passed over because of his skill level, or because that
stereotypically we don’t think of people of Asian descent as a typical NBA star?
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Watch 60 Minutes interview with Jeremy Lin (up until auditorium filled with
kids dribbling at 6:52)
We have to consider: How do stereotypes affect the way we think about real people?
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(Group) Why does representation matter? Why is it important to see people
who not only look like you, but come from a similar set of life experiences
that you do, why does that matter?
Make the point without role models that are similar to you in culture and background it’s
hard to imagine yourself doing that job, or having that goal . . . you might see it as
impossible.
4) Ignorant Racism, Casual Racism, and Otherwise
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Explain: But with this new celebrity came a wave of stereotypical and racist
remarks (both intentional and unintentional) in the way he was described. The
worst being a headline “A Chink In The Armor” which refers to the weakness,
or chink, in a knight’s armor – but that same word is also a racist term for
Asians. Yellow Ben and Jerry’s ice cream with fortune cookies and smg?
Teammates bowing to him . . . etc.
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Watch “Politically Lin-Correct” news video (watch until 3:54)
5) Stereotypical Reflection (short writes and discussions)
Open with things I hear in the halls – racial language, jokes on stereotypes, gay jokes, etc.
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(Group) How do we encourage the use of stereotypes in this country, or more
specifically in our community, or in this school?
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End with: think about times you’ve heard these things and laughed along, or
times you’ve just been silent. Think about the times you’ve said “that’s
messed up” or “that’s wrong.” I’d like you to think about doing more of the
second thing . . . (give some examples – Jeff, and Indian neighbors, Ashley,
Julius . . .)
6) Homework –
Reading Notes – Important Excerpts (homework handout)
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PTI read 118 – 178 / KK read 128 – 179