Invisible Knapsack activity

Based upon YOUR OWN personal racial and/or cultural identity rate each item as:

• Y for “Yes, I can do this (almost) whenever I want and wherever I am.”
• N for “No, I cannot (or can rarely) do this whenever I want and wherever I am.”
• N/A if you feel this does not apply to you

Think about any additional comments or thoughts you may have related to this statement.

1.  I can live where I want to live.
2. I can worship where I want to worship and near where I live.
3.  I can shop where I will not be followed or harassed, and my form of payment is accepted.
4. I can find my preferred kinds of food, clothing, hair salons, hair products, music, etc.
5. I can find people like me portrayed positively on television, in the movies, in songs, etc
6. I can find posters, toys, dolls, greeting cards, etc., that show people like me.
7.
I can find people like me portrayed positively in books, etc., about our nation and history
8.
I can find people like me in most textbooks and teaching materials.
9.  I can say what I want about people and be accepted by those around me.
10. I can be with people like me.

Answer the same prompts based upon a personal racial and/or cultural identity OTHER THAN YOUR OWN.


1.  I can live where I want to live.
2. I can worship where I want to worship and near where I live.
3.  I can shop where I will not be followed or harassed, and my form of payment is accepted.
4. I can find my preferred kinds of food, clothing, hair salons, hair products, music, etc.
5. I can find people like me portrayed positively on television, in the movies, in songs, etc
6. I can find posters, toys, dolls, greeting cards, etc., that show people like me.
7.
I can find people like me portrayed positively in books, etc., about our nation and history
8.
I can find people like me in most textbooks and teaching materials.
9.  I can say what I want about people and be accepted by those around me.
10. I can be with people like me.


Racism

The use of race to establish and justify a social hierarchy and system of power that privileges, preferences or advances certain individuals or groups of people usually at the expense of others.  Racism is perpetuated through both interpersonal and institutional practices.

 

Prejudice

 Adverse or hostile attitude toward a group or its individual members, generally without just grounds or before sufficient evidence can be gathered to substantiate its validity.  It is characterized by irrational stereotyped beliefs.

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