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Reflecting on the Danger of Silence
Duration
One 50-min class periodSubject
- English & Language Arts
Grade
11–12Language
English — USPublished
Overview
About This Lesson
In the final moments of “As You Were,” Ebony finds the courage and agency to say “No.” No to Josiah. No to Jessie. No to the marching band. In this moment of empowerment, she “breaks rank,” even though it may mean sacrificing the friendships and the strong sense of belonging and community we saw her experience in the first part of the story.
In his 2017 TED@NYC Talk, writer, poet, and scholar Clint Smith reflects on the danger of silence and the ways in which his silence and complicity robbed others of their dignity and humanity. He also sheds light on the relationship between agency and voice, and the ways in which our decisions to take responsibility for and ownership over our actions and to speak up empower us to enact change in our lives, communities, and the world.
In this lesson, students draw connections between “As You Were” and “The Danger of Silence” in order to consider the power of one person’s agency and voice. Drawing inspiration from Clint Smith, students will use the transcript from his talk to create “blackout poems” that express their ideas for how they can use their own voices to empower themselves and others.
Preparing to Teach
A Note to Teachers
Before teaching this lesson, please review the following information to help guide your preparation process.
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Finding One's Voice
Summative Assessment: Agency and Action in the World Today
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