Read “I Have A Dream,” by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Respond to the Reading
Discuss these words from Martin Luther King, Jr.:
“I have a dream that four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
Do you think the community in which you live has reached this goal? Explain. What can you do to achieve King’s “dream”?
Write a Research Report
Work with a partner or small group to research an incident of ethnic or religious intolerance in Canada. What were the events leading up to the incident? What were the issues, and how did the people involved feel about them? What, if anything, did the people involved learn from the incident? What did you learn from your research? Decide on how you will present your report: as a scripted recorded podcast, or a written post in your blog. Hint: use the speech as a model.
Write an Opinion Essay
Choose a type of prejudice or bias about which you feel strongly. It could be bias against an ethnic or religious group, a group of students in your school, or any other group. Write an opinion essay that expresses why people have a negative view of that group, and presents arguments that might change their minds. Your essay should begin with a clear statement of your point of view, give your arguments and supporting evidence, and end with a strong and persuasive conclusion.
Suggested Topics:
Canadian Residential School System
Chinese Immigration to Canada: A Tale of Perseverance
Africville: Expropriating Black Nova Scotians
Hippie Society: The Youth Rebellion