What Does it Mean to be You?

It is unrealistic to expect our students to have a full and complete understanding of themselves, no matter their age. Part of higher education is the act of understanding and exploring self. It is important to expose students to readings, discussions, and assignments that allow them to think deeply about who they are, what it means to be them, and who they want to be in the future. Paired with a piece of identity exploration, such as Randall Kenan's "Where Am I Black?" or Baratunde Thurston's "How to Be Black," this activity allows students to creatively define who they are and what it means to be them, given their culture and lived experience. As we work to diversify representation in our coursework and activities, allowing students to define themselves is an important act of inclusion, giving voice to the historically voiceless, or to those who just think their voice doesn't matter. This activity can take on different depths, as you'll see in the examples below. No matter how deep your students go, a simple smartphone or tablet camera and a touch of editing can work wonders. Check out the activity description and student examples below.

The Activity

After reading the supplied pieces on identity and discussing them in class, your activity is to creatively convey what it means to be you. Using pictures, video, sound, and spoken word, explore and create a representation of yourself.