Race and Ethnicity Free Activities

Activity 1: Looking at Race and Ethnicity—and Power 

Doing Sociology 1.4 Reflecting on Colorblind Language and Racism

In this exercise, your students will analyze colorblind language. Colorblind racism often manifests itself in specific language styles that generally allow White people to “talk nasty about minorities without sounding racist” (Bonilla-Silva 2010). Your students will be asked if they have heard a person say or do any of the following...See activity. 

Activity 2: Identifying Racism Throughout U.S. History 

Doing Sociology 2.3 Discrimination Through the Years

This exercise requires your students to step outside of the current culture in the United States and recognize discriminatory behavior they may have overlooked. They will be asked to answer related questions in writing and be prepared to share their answers with a partner…See activity.

Activity 3. Recognizing Systemic Racism as a Global Issue 

Doing Sociology 3.2 Removing Colonial Symbols

In this exercise your students will consider the merits of getting rid of statues of colonialists on campuses to challenge the dominant view of history and institutional racism in higher education. The toppling of colonial figures and symbols of slavery in the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests around the world is reminiscent of earlier protests in South Africa…See activity.

Activity 4: Recognizing How Social Institutions Support Racism

Doing Sociology 4.3 Poor Air Quality: An Example of Racist Policy Making?

In this exercise, your students will examine statistics on pollution and demographics as they relate to clean-air policies. San Bernardino County in California had the third worst air quality in the country in 2019. The air quality has deteriorated considerably over the past several years, leading to poorer health outcomes for its residents...See activity.  

Activity 5: Cultural Supports for Systemic Racism in the United States

Doing Sociology 5.1 Who Holds Power in American Media?

In this exercise, your students will examine photos of some of the most powerful people in America. Racial-ethnic minorities are underrepresented throughout the media industry. In “The Faces of American Power, Nearly as White as the Oscar Nominees,” The New York Times provides the following statistics regarding the number of people of color in top leadership positions...See activity.  

Activity 6: American Indians and Alaska Natives: Surviving Genocide

Doing Sociology 6.6 Environmental Injustice in Alaska and the Lower 48 States

In this exercise, your students will consider the pros and cons of establishing a mine near a pristine lake in Alaska. They will imagine they live near the proposed mine. Then write answers to the following questions from the perspective of someone who (a) lives in a village downstream and depends on salmon for a living, (b) would gain a job selling food to miners, (c) is a village elder and activist who believes the lake is sacred, and (d) is the regional leader of the mining corporation...See activity.

Activity 7: Defining, Attaining, and Benefitting From Whiteness

Doing Sociology 7.4 Examining White Supremacist Extremist Organizations

In this exercise, your students will consider the prevalence and threat of White supremacist activity in the United States. White supremacist groups are a persistent problem in American society, and they are now more influential than they have been in many years...See activity. 

Activity 8: Black Americans- Facing Slavery and Fighting for Justice

In this 15-minute exercise, your students will consider Michelle Alexander’s assertion (in Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness) that the discriminatory policies described are similar in effect to Jim Crow laws...See activity. 

Activity 9: Forever Foreigners? Asian American Ethnic Groups

In this 15-minute exercise, your students will consider Constance Wu’s thoughts on the groundbreaking film Crazy Rich Asians. Wu, who starred as Rachel Chu in the film, was born in Virginia and is the child of Taiwanese immigrants...See activity. 

Activity 10: Understanding Latinxs’ Presence in the United States

In this 15-minute activity, your students will determine the pros and cons of categorizing ethnic groups; explain the different meanings of Hispanic, Latino/a, and Latinx; and explain why they think the census should use one of them over the other two...See activity. 

Activity 11: Jewish, Arab, and Muslim Americans: Experiencing Ethnocentrism as Racism

This 30-minute exercise requires your students to examine implicit biases against Muslims. In Barack Hussein Obama’s 2004 Democratic National Convention speech that amplified his political career, he alluded to the prejudice...See activity. 

Learn more about the Sociology in Action Series: