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The promise of equality
The promise of equality
Content
This activity uses a VR experience of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech to explore the universal themes of equality, justice, and democracy. Participants will reflect on the historical context of the American Civil Rights Movement and connect its core messages to current challenges and opportunities in Europe. The goal is to empower young people to become active promoters of equality in their own communities. Feel free to edit the activity so it fits your target group or meets what the young people are experiencing.
Objectives:
- Participants understand the historical significance of the "March on Washington" and the "I Have a Dream" speech.
- They connect the struggle for civil rights in the U.S. with contemporary issues of equality in Europe.
- They brainstorm and plan a concrete action to promote equality and democracy in their local community.
How the youth worker can prepare for this activity
To ensure the activity runs smoothly and has a lasting impact, a youth worker can prepare in several key areas.
Prior Knowledge & Understanding
1. Deepen Your Knowledge of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement:
- Core Message: Make sure you have a solid grasp of King's central message, the context of the March on Washington, and its significance. What were the main goals of the movement?
- Key Terminology: Understand the meaning of terms like "segregation," "discrimination," and "civil rights."
- Relevance: Reflect on why King's message remains relevant today, even though it took place in the US in the 1960s.
2. Connect to the European Context:
Draw Parallels: Think about contemporary issues of inequality and discrimination in Europe. Where do you see similar patterns (e.g., discrimination in the job market, racism, unequal educational opportunities)?
Concrete Examples: Find recent examples or news stories that can spark discussion and make the relevance tangible for young people. This helps bridge the gap between the VR experience and their own lives.
3. Make sure you have experienced MLK: Now is the time several times on your VR set, so you know and understand what young people will see, need to do and experience.
Technical & Practical Preparation
1. Test the VR Equipment:
- Pre-Check: Ensure all VR headsets are fully charged and working correctly. Test the VR experience (the video) yourself at least once to confirm it plays properly.
- Audio: Check that the audio from the VR experience is clear, using headphones if necessary.
- Troubleshooting: Know how to solve common issues (e.g., frozen screen, dead battery).
2. Location & Setup:
- Space: Ensure there is enough space for participants to safely and comfortably use the VR headsets without bumping into each other.
- Seating: Consider whether they should sit or stand during the experience. Sitting is often more stable and can reduce dizziness.
3. Prepare Materials:
- Transcript: Print out a copy of the speech transcript for each participant or have it ready to project. This will aid in the detailed analysis of the text.
- VR headsets (one for each participant or enough to rotate).
- Have the MLK: Now is the time on your VR set.
- Whiteboard or flip chart with markers.
- Writing Supplies: Have markers, paper, and post-its ready for the brainstorming session.
- Badges: Make sure the "Equality Catalyst" badges are ready to be handed out.
Step-by-Step Guide for Youth Workers
1. Introduction (10 minutes):
Start by asking participants what equality and democracy mean to them.
Briefly introduce Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.
Explain that they will be experiencing a historical moment in VR to understand its relevance today.
2. VR Experience (5 minutes):
Have the participants put on the VR headsets and watch the "March on Washington" clip.
Encourage them to pay attention to the atmosphere and the feeling of being there.
3. Reflection and Discussion (20 minutes):
Ask participants about their initial impressions. How did it feel to be "in" MLK; Now is the time?
Talk together about the experience.
Facilitate a discussion using questions like:
- What did King mean by the "bad check"?
- Who issued the check, and to whom?
- How can we apply this metaphor to the European context today? Where do you see the promise of equality not being fulfilled?
- What kind of "check" would you want to "cash" in your own city or country to create more equality?
4. Brainstorming and Action (15 minutes):
Divide the participants into small groups.
Ask each group to brainstorm a small, concrete action they could take to promote equality or democracy. This could be anything from a social media campaign to a local event.
Have each group present their idea to the others.
5. Conclusion and Badge award (10 minutes):
Summarise the key takeaways from the session.
Present the participants with their badge for completing the activity.
(c) credits activity cover: Brett Sayles
Get activity badge
The Equality Catalyst Get this badge
This badge recognises your active engagement with the themes of equality and democracy. You have virtually witnessed a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights and have reflected on its enduring relevance for Europe. By completing this VR activity, you have demonstrated a commitment to understanding and promoting a more just and inclusive society. You are now an Equality Catalyst, ready to inspire change in your community.
Tasks
Task no.1
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
To earn your Equality Catalyst badge, you must complete the following task:
After the VR experience and group discussion, create 1 of the following:
- A "Quote of Action": Choose a short phrase or a sentence from Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech that resonates with you. Write it down and add a single sentence explaining why you chose it.
- A "Call to Action" Statement: Write one sentence that starts with "I will..." followed by a simple action you can take to promote equality. For example: "I will listen more to different perspectives." or "I will share what I learned today with a family member."
- An "Equality Vision" Drawing: Create a quick sketch or drawing that represents your personal vision for a more equal community.
This smaller task requires you to reflect on the experience and connect it to a personal action or thought.
Skills
ETS-TR
#Supports learners’ reflection on issues such as solidarity, social justice, promotion and protection of human rights, discrimination, dignity and equality etc., in relation to the content of the activity.
Organisers
Network of Cities and Regions of Learning
Badge issuer recognized with
Awero not-for-profit organisation manages this platform and develops it together with leading educational organisations. The European Union's programme Erasmus+ granted co-funding for building the first version of this platform. Contact support@awero.org.
Platform
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