Sometimes people are
mean to those who seem different. Maybe they think everybody
has to act a certain way to be cool. Or maybe they feel scared or
angry about people who are different (about the things they do, the way
they look). Treating people unkindly because they are
different is called prejudice.
Being the victim of prejudice
doesn't feel good. Being stared at or called names (or being left
out of the fun) hurts. Being the victim of prejudice can make a
person feel very sad and very angry. And, sometimes prejudice
leads to terrible violence. People have been killed just for
having skin that is darker (or lighter) than another group's -- or for
having a religion that another group doesn't like. Prejudice has
created a lot of sadness in the world.
But just as bad, prejudice
keeps us from working together to get things done. If we can't get
along, we can't cooperate, and we can't help each other, or share our
ideas.
The thing about being different
is that being different can help us come up with ideas that no one has
ever had before!
And
really.. if you think about it... EVERYBODY is different!
So... what if we
decide to see our differences as
gifts to share with each other? And what if we could try to focus
on what we have in common -- on the dreams and hopes that we
share. Maybe we could learn to work & play together-- and have more
fun!
Thailand
People
can be different in all kinds of ways. But differences can be fun!
Ecuador
When
we do
get upset by differences, the important thing to focus on is not
"who's way is right", but how can we live together peacefully:
One
way to help us live peacefully together... is to look
for the good in other people
and
in
their way of living --
this is also called "appreciating diversity".
Another
is to learn
positive ways to cope with our own strong feelings, the feelings we
havewhen
we disagree with other people. Feelings such as fear, shame, or
anger can cloud our thinking, and influence us to make choices we
later regret.
We can also learn
how to resolve conflicts
-- this
means, working out our fights and disagreements without hurting each
other. And without hitting or name calling or trying to embarrass the
other person.
Also, we
must learn how
we
can get our needs metand
be safe --
so that we can feel okay -- while letting other people be just who
they are.
Finally,
we
must all make the commitment not to hurt each other (or
ourselves) for being different. We must
know,
there is a better way.
A listing of groups with great information
about helping kids learn to work things out peacefully. Some groups
can be contacted via email or website, others by phone or letter writing.
First hand accounts from slaves
and slave traders. Edited by Steven Mintz, University of Houston.
Sobering food for thought about where prejudice has sometimes led
our species.
Visit this
The More You Know site to see video clips on this topic
by famous television personalities like Kristen Johnston &
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From The Sun), Megan
Mullaly & Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), and Alex
Kingston (ER). Be sure to check out their
information on
bullying as
well.
History isn't always
pretty. For help teaching your students about some of the
uglier moments in human history, check out these top notch
lesson plans and resources. Facing Ourselves is a
premier educational organization that aims to teach young people
about the evils of prejudice, so that tomorrows leaders and
citizens can make better choices.