Facing Ferguson: News Literacy in a Digital Age

Facing Ferguson: News Literacy in a Digital Age → Day 2: The Impact of Identity →

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Facing Ferguson: News Literacy in a Digital Age

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Activity for this Learning List (6/17/2025 - 7/17/2025)

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Day 2: The Impact of Identity

Description

In the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown, the American public was sharply divided about who was at fault. In this lesson, students will explore the reasons for this division by looking at how identity affected the ways in which people responded to the events. Students begin by reflecting on how identity influences our perceptions of people. They then examine a public opinion poll about a range of issues related to Ferguson, sortable by different aspects of identity (race, gender, age, etc.) and consider what the poll reveals as well as its limitations. Finally, after watching police officers talk about race, students reflect on the diversity of perspectives, opinions, and experiences that exists within this—or any—group.

Learning Goals:

Students will be able to identify how their identity contributes to the way they respond to other people (and how other people respond to us).
Students will be able to understand the deep divisions reflected in the different ways that some people in the US thought about race relations in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death.
Students will be able to describe the value and limitations of public opinion polls.
Students will be able to reflect on how identity shapes the ways in which different people and groups view police and think about race.

Summary

Essential Questions: What is the relationship between identity and the way we respond to news and information? How did people’s identities and experiences influence the way they responded to news and information from Ferguson? How does identity affect how police officers think about race?

Anticipated Timeframe: 2 class periods