What’s in MY Name: Cherishing the Names of your Black Students - Part I

Day One – Introduction into Implicit Bias

Pictionary Vocabulary Game Before class, select 5-7 of the words and create slides with photos that represent the words. For example, here is a slide for the word bias, and then one for the word Black. Show students the entire vocabulary list over Microsoft Teams by displaying a PowerPoint (we have attached an editable PowerPoint to help), or have them refer to their notebook where they’ve recorded all the vocabulary words by now.

Activity 1:

Have students work in pairs or groups. (In Microsoft Teams, groups can privately chat with each other through the channels function. In Zoom, you can send students to breakout rooms. Modify this for whole class if you like. If virtual; have students raise their hands when they think they know the vocabulary word that matches the picture being displayed.)

Activity 2:

At the end, consider debriefing and asking students how they correctly matched the word. If mistakes were made, ask students to explain their reasoning. See if there is something correct in it, and lift that up. If they interpreted something in a way you did not anticipate that lends itself to a correct answer- accept and celebrate that with phrases like: “Oh I didn’t see it that way! That is an original, innovative insight. So even though I was thinking that this picture matched bias, I see with your explanation, it also fits with anti-Black racism” Also analyze any misconceptions that led to an incorrect answer- but double-check yourself to make sure your information is accurate before assuming that what has been shared is incorrect.

Start by having a short discussion sharing a story about what you know about the meaning of your own name. If anyone has ever mispronounced or made fun of your name, consider sharing that story with students if you’re comfortable. Express how it made you feel to be the subject of jokes.

Do not have students share their stories yet, but you can let them know that this project will allow them to do that if they wish. Tell them to start thinking about the stories of their names.

Use a strategy like Marzano’s (see in Resources) and tools based on Dr. Marzano’s 6 step strategy like the graphic organizer attached. The graphic organizer allows for two words per page.

Consider assigning students two words each, and have them present their graphic organizers. Stress the importance of them translating definitions into their own words, and making connections to their lives through the sentences or through drawing pictures about the words. Have students present.

As each student presents, have the other students fill in a chart you create, or other blank graphic organizers so that by the end- all 14 words are defined. You can use one day to define, assign finding synonyms and antonyms as homework, assign sentences as homework- or complete the entire graphic organizer as a class using the JIGSAW or a method that you the teacher, chooses.

Vocabulary

1. Black

2. bias

3. anti-Black racism

4. anti-racist

5. excerpt

6. theme

7. Africa (Alkebulan)

8. African diaspora

9. African-American

10. etymology

11. Nigeria

12. Creole

13. Edo

14. Yoruba

15. self-determination
 

Write the word BLACK on the screen (if in class, you can write on poster paper/whiteboard). Have them list words and pictures that come to their minds when they see the word. Write their words in list or word bubble format. Repeat for the word WHITE. Ask students: “Are there patterns that we see here in the ways you responded to the word BLACK and WHITE?” “Is there anything about the word BLACK that you said, that you did not say about the word WHITE and vice versa?

Say out loud to bring the conversation to the next activity:

Often times, people associate blackness with things that are negative, and whiteness with the positive. Did we see that in our activity? [Give some time to discuss].

Teacher: People who think in simple terms like “white= good, black= bad”, are thinking with something called bias. Bias is when you are for or against one person or group and not another. Bias is usually unfair. Teacher: Another word on our vocabulary list is anti-Black racism. Thinking and acting in ways that see Black people as lesser than, or don’t see us at all, is called anti-Black racism or anti-Blackness. Today, we’re going to learn about African American and African-inspired names in order to be anti-racist. Being anti-racist means taking action daily to stop anti-Black racism, and hurtful things happening to other people because of how they were born.

If needed, send it to your grade level and school administrators to receive approval.

Another important strategy is to send a note home with parents letting them know you will be talking about racism, send a copy of the lesson home first, and see if any families have concerns.

Including your colleagues, school administration, and families of the students ensures collective learning and growth and avoids potential roadblocks.

If you are a family member, completing this at home, you are acting as a teacher and guide, so all the parts saying “teacher” apply to you as well!