Discrimination in Prejudice and Privilege

  The 1970's Class that Experienceed Simulated Discrimination in Prejudice and Privilege A Class Divided:Public School Kids Experience Simulated Lesson in Segregation and Privilege Teacher’s Note A Class Divided is an encore presentation of the classic documentary on third-grade teacher Jane Elliott's "blue eyes/brown eyes" exercise, originally conducted in the days following the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. This guide is designed to help you use the film to engage students in reflection and dialogue about the historical role of racism in the United States, as well as the role of prejudice and stereotyping in students' lives today. Because the film deals with racism and prejudice, it may raise deep emotions for both you. Some students may be confronted with privilege for the first time while others may see an affirmation of a lifetime of discrimination. As you see in the film, frustration, anger, and pain are not uncommon responses to being confronted with bias and inequity. Issue Definition and Topic Background Racism Some people argue that racism is primarily a belief or attitude and that anyone who unfairly judges another based on race is racist. Others argue that racism is about action and systemic discrimination, so only those with the power to act, and not those who are the targets of discrimination, can be racist. Which argument do you find convincing and why? Is there a difference between racism and prejudice? If so, what is the difference?   • How do our beliefs about our response towards expectations of our government's political response to social practices influencing the ways in we see and choose to interact with each other? • What happens when one aspect of our identities is used to sort us into groups? • How has our response to difference and what we do with a variation influence politics and American government? • How does the aspect in our self identity cause collective political effects on society's expectation of government's role? • How does our identity affect how we see not only ourselves, how how see others, and the choices that we ultimately make.