LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Define colorism, identify factors that inspire activists, identify ways social media can be used to spread positive messages 

HEALTH ED STANDARD

NHES 8: Advocate for personal, family, and community health

CASEL Competency: Social awareness

KEY VOCAB

colorism, distress, empowerment, intervenes

Lesson Plan: Standing Up for Diversity

After being bullied for her dark skin, Kheris Rogers and her sister launched an online movement, empowering other students to stand up for themselves.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

How can I recover from a painful experience by helping others?

 CLOSE-READING QUESTIONS

  1. How did Taylor use social media to help Kheris when she was upset about being bullied in school? Which hashtag did she use, and where did it come from? Taylor posted a picture of Kheris on Twitter with the hashtag #FlexinInHerComplexion. This is their grandma’s favorite encouraging phrase. 
  2. What happened in the month following that tweet? The post went viral, with more than 30,000 retweets in a month, and other people began to share their own experiences with colorism. 
  3. What did Kheris do with the profits from her shirt sales? Kheris set up a foundation that works with the Los Angeles Department of Family Services to help youth living in foster homes. 

 CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

  1.  Kheris was bullied for something that was out of her control. Has something like that ever happened to you or someone you know? Describe the situation and how it made you feel. Answers will vary. 
  2. Why do you think 44 percent of middle schoolers experience bullying in the form of name-calling? Explain your answer. Answers will vary. 
  3. How often does bullying stop when a peer intervenes? Why do you think that is? Possible answer: When a peer steps in, bullying stops more than half the time. Intervening shows a bully that the person they are hurting has an ally. This might make the bully less likely to pick on that person.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

DIGGING DEEPER

NHES 8

CASEL Competency: Social awareness

One tweet was just the beginning for Kheris. Since then, she has launched a T-shirt line, started a foundation, and is still going strong. Using the VIRAL ADVOCACY guide, students will go online to find out what Kheris is up to now and how her online movement is continuing to grow. 

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

NHES 8

CASEL Competency: Social Awareness

Kheris’s response to being bullied was to spread a positive message. Have students FLIP THE SCRIPT by choosing an issue they feel needs attention and then coming up with a catchy and empowering message to share with the class.

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