White Fragility Lesson Plan

Does Ignorance Equal Innocence?

Kind of Activity:

Research

Objective:

Students will investigate racial innocence by surveying works of literature and film which address the topic.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.4, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.5

Structure:

Students will conduct a mini literature review on the subject of racial innocence. Divide the class into small groups and assign each group one of the following works to research. Listed next to each work are themes to which students should pay special attention in their research:

Charles Mills, The Racial Contract: traditional, white-centric...