Tuesday, 1/15

Today's Essential Question
What is the evolution of racism in U.S. history? Is racism natural?

Starter
Do you think racism is innate or learned through socialization? Why?

Agenda

A. This Week's In-Class Schedule and Assignments


Amygdala:  A part of the brain proven to perform a primary role in the processing of memory and emotional reactions

B. Atlantic_RacismNotNatural

Read the article and discuss these questions with your table:

1. What does the graph at the top of the article mean?
2. What are the actual findings of the paper by Eva Telzer of UCLA?
3. What does the author of this article claim Telzer's research "proves" about the origins of racism?
4. What does the following quote mean?  "the correlation between peer group diversity and dampened amygdala response doesn't mean the former causes the latter; it could work the other way around: maybe people with a mild response to racial difference wind up with more diverse peer"
5. Do you agree with the author's claim that "Evolution seems to have inclined us to readily define whole groups of people as the enemy, after which we can find their suffering, even death, very easy to countenance and even facilitate"?
6. What connection do you see between this article and the primary source documents about the Southern Colonies in British America?

C.  Discussion on primary source documents on "The Southern Colonies in British America"

D.  Introduction to Their Eyes Were Watching God  +

Homework:
Read chapters 1-5 of Eyes by Friday (51 pages)
We will have a quiz and class discussion on Friday.

*I will not be evaluating annotations for Eyes.  You will be assessed on the two quizzes and a seminar + seminar prep write-up.  I'm moving away from checking your annotations on reading to prepare you for transition to senior year and college where the reading is merely a tool to help you prepare for class discussions and exams/essays.

Honors Announcements:

• No lunch meeting.  Fill out the form below instead.
• Be at the Student Union lobby no later than 5pm to set-up.  We'll all help with clean-up. Should be straightforward.
• Artists Statements due Sunday pm BUT I'd encourage having it at exhibition (on construction paper)
• Propping things up on the table?
• String- Molly?
• Easels- Shannon?
• Documentation binder: Print it!