The goal of this lesson is to expand on The Bear That Wasn’t lesson and give another entry point into how labels and narratives can affect one’s mindset about themselves and others. This lesson will serve as the final bridge into exploring how labels impact Hispanic communities in the United States, with the shadow of eugenics.
As a class, watch Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie’s TED Talk “The Danger of A Single Story”²⁷ and use the questions below to facilitate a discussion. Let students know there are three required questions, then they may choose one or more from the second section of questions.
Required answers:
- What does Adichie mean by a “single story”?
- What examples does she give?
- Why does she believe “single stories” are dangerous?
Required to choose from any (one or more) of the following to answer:
- Is there a single story that others often use to define you?
- Can you think of an example of a “single story” that may be part of your worldview?
- Where do those “single stories” come from?
- How can we find a “balance of stories?”
- Why do you think we are watching this video? How does it relate to how people in the United States are labeled or told stories about each other?
The important bridge comes in discussing #6 above as a class. Ask students to reflect in writing, What do you think is the single story of Hispanic people being told to us by the Trump administration? Who do you think of when you picture someone Hispanic? Is there a singular image perpetuated by Hollywood of what Hispanic people look like? This is then followed up by presenting students with evidence of Trump’s callously inaccurate, harmful rhetoric as it pertains to Hispanic people in the United States.
This is where we begin to bridge into making the connection between current rhetoric and eugenic policies and ideas.
