Contemporary American Issues
Ms. Portman

Read "Where Are You From?" by Geeta Kothari and "It's My Country Too" by Juan Cadena

Have you ever felt like an outsider? Have you ever been treated as an outsider even though you didn't feel that way? How are communities formed? What keeps people outside of communities?

Read "A Letter to My Daughter" by Siu Wai Anderson and "On Being Black and Middle Class" by Shelby Steele and "You Can't be Gay-You're Latino" by Joel P. Engardio

How do race and class play a role in these people's lives? Why do they reject the idea that ethnicity should be the sole criteria for judging who they are? Why is it just as detrimental to deny your ethnicity? Have you ever had the different identities in your life conflict?

Read "DWB: Driving While Black" by Robyn Meredith (page 197), "3 Blacks Win $1 Million in Bauer Store Incident" by David Stout (page 205), "The Border Patrol State" by Leslie Marmon Silko (page 211), "From Mother to Suspect, in an Instant" by Patricia Jones (page 243)

What are the pro/cons of police keeping profile records of the people they detain? What kind of recourse do innocent people have when they get detained? What do you think about suing as an option?

"I Don't Count as Diversity" by Angelo Ragaza (page 209)"Grand-Slam Breakfast?" by Emil Guillermo (page 218) Racism at Texaco (page 239)

How is discrimination in the workplace different from discrimination in schools? Should employers have the right to say what they want? Should restaurants and stores have the right to require payment before ordering or refuse service?

Read "Another Day, Another 75 Cents" by Ann Scott Tyson (page 207), "Supermarket Chain to Pay $81 Million to Settle a Bias Suit" by Allen R. Meyerson (page 220) "Home Depot Pays $87.5 Million for Not Promoting More Women" by Allen R. Myerson (page 251)

Why is women's work devalued in our society? Do you think there will ever be equal pay for equal work? What are your thoughts about lawsuits that are a result of discrimination?

Read "Homophobia Often Found In Schools, Data Show" by James Brooke (page 203), "Lesbians and Gays Banned from St. Patrick's Parade" by Patricia Lefevere (page 233), "The Transgender Spectrum" by Lisa J. Lees

Why do you think homophobia exists? What is the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity? Should there be laws to protect the LGBTQ community against discrimination? Is the gay rights movement equitable to civil rights movement?

Writing Assignment
The class will create a survey to give out to other high school students about identity and discrimination in everyday life. You will need to give out the survey to 15 teenagers. Once they are turned into you, you will write a 3-5 analysis of your findings.