• Narrative video

• Paper

• Video Transcript

Hand out paper to students and ask them to reflect on the prompt provided: Think of a time when someone shared a personal story with
you. What elements of the story made it impactful? Why are you able to
still recall that story today?

Ask students to share their reflections with a peer. Walk around the room and listen to conversations. When you hear something particularly insightful, encourage that student to share with the large group.

Invite 3 students to share their thoughts with the class.

Suggested Narratives: 

• Shane
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• I’ll Push
  You: Story of Radical Friendship | Justin Skeesuck & Patrick
  Gray (minutes 32:48-46:57): A documentary of two best friends, Justin and Patrick, one pushing the other 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain. The clip includes the discussion of O Cebreiro and one woman in particular who helped them reach the top.

• Maysoon
  Zayid – “I Got 99 Problems… Palsy is Just One“: Maysoon Zayid, a comedian with cerebral palsy, shares her experiences with humor and honesty. Her talk highlights the importance of embracing diversity and challenging societal expectations.

• Zak
  Ebrahim – “I am the son of a terrorist. Here’s how I chose peace.” : Zak Ebrahim shares his personal journey of growing up as the son of a terrorist and his decision to choose a path of peace and tolerance. It explores the power of breaking cycles of violence through personal choices.

• Thandie
  Newton – “Embracing otherness, embracing myself”: Actress Thandie Newton speaks about her experiences of feeling like an outsider and how embracing her “otherness” has been a crucial part of her identity. It’s a powerful talk on the importance of self-acceptance.

• Mellody
  Hobson – “Color blind or color brave?” : Mellody Hobson discusses the importance of being “color brave” rather than “color blind” in addressing race and diversity. She shares personal anecdotes and challenges the audience to have open and honest conversations about race.

• iO
  Tillett Wright – “Fifty shades of gay”: iO Tillett Wright shares personal stories from his own life and experiences as a photographer documenting people across the LGBTQ+ spectrum. It’s a talk that encourages embracing and celebrating the diversity within the community.

• Chinaka
  Hodge – “What will you tell your daughters about 2016?”: Chinaka Hodge delivers a powerful spoken word piece that reflects on the social and political climate of 2016, with a focus on racial and gender dynamics. It encourages self-reflection and dialogue.

•  Emi
  Mahmoud – “The Power of Words”: Emi Mahmoud, a Sudanese-American poet, shares her spoken word poetry about her experiences as a refugee and the importance of resilience and remembrance in the face of conflict.

• Andrew
  Solomon – “Love, no matter what” : Andrew Solomon explores the concept of unconditional love through the lens of families facing extraordinary challenges. He shares stories of parents who have embraced and loved their children, despite perceived differences.

• Chimamanda
  Ngozi Adichie – “The danger of a single story” : Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice — and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.