Back to Top 1. Read the famous second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence to the class. We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. As a class, define racism.
Racism can also be discrimination based on race.
Student examples might include slavery, segregation, hate groups, hate crimes, racial profiling, affirmative action, and employment discrimination. Once the class has generated a list of examples of racism, ask them to divide the list into those practices of racism that are illegal and those that are wrong but not currently illegal. Slavery, segregation, and hate crimes are considered de jure discrimination because they are illegal. Ask students to talk about the effects of de facto racism. Now introduce the Bill of Rights to your students.