Work Sample
Lesson Plan: Racial Identity & White Privilege

Created By: Mitchell Hofer

Lesson Plan: “Racial Identity Development & White Privilege”

I.                   Standards Addressed:

The following lesson plan will address the NCSS standard IV, Individual Development & Identity, with the performance expectation (c) to describe the ways family, religion, gender, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, and other group and cultural influences contribute to the development of a sense of self.

II.                Results/Expected Learning Outcome:

1.      Students will be able to identify and discuss the theory of white privilege.

2.      Students will be able to identify and discuss the theory of racial identity development.

3.      Students will be able to identify how race contributes to the development of an individual’s sense of self.

III.             Evaluation:

1.      Students will be evaluated based on individual input into small group discussion.  The quality of the student’s input will be more important in evaluating their progress than the number of times a student contributes.

2.      Students will write a personal essay describing how race impacts their identity and their life.

IV.              Curriculum

“Racial identity development” fits well within a psychology or sociology class.  This lesson would be best taught when discussing the components that makes up one’s identity (i.e. familial, religious, gender, ethnical, national, and economical influences.)  This lesson also works well in a series of lessons on racial (in)equality.

V.                 Instruction:

Day 1

1.      Open class discussion on how students feel race impacts their identity.

2.      Assign reading, selections from Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, to be read in class in small groups.

                                                               i.      Discuss selections and relativity in small groups and then as a whole class.

Day 2

3.      Inquire whether racial identity development is an issue only with people of color or if it affects people classified as white too.

                                                               i.      Assign reading, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.”

Day 2 & 3

4.      In class discussion on white privilege and racial identity development.

5.      Assign personal essay requiring students to discuss how race has impacts their identity and life.

VI.              Discussion Questions:

1.      How does a person’s race impact their identity?

2.      How do the authors feel race effects identity?

3.      What does the author identify as the reason people of color form tight-knit groups (i.e. sit together in the cafeteria)?  How do you feel about her assessments?

4.      Can people of color be racist?  What do you make of the author’s claim that people of color cannot be racist?

5.      Do white people experience special privileges that people of color do not experience?

6.      What do you feel about the author’s assessment of white privilege?

7.      What can be done to counteract white privilege?  Is it important to do so?