JAX AND REDDY (RACISM)

Racism Is Real • BRAVE NEW FILMS from St. Ignatius Church -Baltimore on Vimeo.

Sometimes life’s lessons come from those with the least experience.

The story of two 5-year-old boys from Kentucky, one white and one black, is teaching people about racial harmony.

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The story exploded online when the mother of Jax, the white boy, posted on Facebook about how her son wanted to get his haircut like his black buddy, Reddy, so they could trick their teacher:

"This morning Jax and I were discussing his wild hair. I told him that he needed a haircut this weekend. He said that he wanted his head shaved really short so he could look like his friend Reddy. He said he couldn’t wait to go to school on Monday with his hair like Reddy’s so that his teacher wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. He thought it would be so hilarious to confuse his teacher with the same haircut.
Here’s a picture of Jax and Reddy from their Christmas program. I’m sure you all see the resemblance.
If this isn’t proof that hate and prejudice is something that is taught I don’t know what is. The only difference Jax sees in the two of them is their hair."

The boys believe if they have the same haircut, their teacher won’t be able to tell them apart.

WAVE-TV followed Jax to his haircut, and he and Reddy giggle and goof around as Jax gets his hair shaved off.

In the video , Reddy sums it all up: "Jax’s me ... and I’m Jax.’’

Click HERE.

Vocabulary exercise (Race - racial - racially - racism - racist) - HERE

- Reading Comprehension / Cloze test:

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

March 21 is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It commemorates a __________ that happened in the town of Sharpeville in South Africa on this day in 1960. Police opened __________ and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid laws. The __________ shocked the world. For many years this day was __________ as Sharpeville Day in South Africa. In 1966, the UN General Assembly created this special day, calling on all countries to redouble their __________ to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination, __________ and for all. Every March 21st, the offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva and New York conduct activities to highlight the __________ of racism and our duty to __________ it.		efforts massacre combat evil tragedy known fire once
This day perhaps played a role in the __________ of apartheid in South Africa. Today the country is a multi-racial society where the government is promoting __________ at all levels. The ending of apartheid and the discrimination that went with it __________ up South Africa to greater economic development. UN General-Secretary Ban Ki-moon spoke of how racism affects human rights and becomes an __________ to a nation’s development: "Racist practices hurt their __________, but they also limit the promise of entire societies where they are tolerated. They prevent individuals from realizing their __________ and stop them from contributing fully to national __________." Racism is still a damaging force in today’s world. Try and make a __________ on March 21.		victims  ending difference obstacle equality potential progress opened

From this webpage.

- 2nd Reading Comprehension activity (From this page):

Show Racism the Red Card

Football, the largest spectator sport in the UK, has changed a great deal in the last twenty years. Not so long ago black footballers frequently faced racist chants from the crowds. Premiership players from countries outside the UK have said that this is a cultural thing. ” A Dad acts in a certain way with his son right beside him”. Another player agrees, ”If everyday you hear something like your father saying ‘I hate blacks’ then one day the kid will say the same thing”. Premiership clubs now have top players from many countries and ethnic minorities born and brought up in Britain. The racism experienced by these players has decreased thanks to campaigns in schools and at football grounds.

‘Show Racism the Red Card’ and ‘Kick Racism Out of Football’ are two organisations working to end the racism in football crowds.

More recently, there have been a number of racist chants and taunts at European football matches where black players from British clubs were playing. Racism in football is still a European problem.

Every year British and European football clubs, top players and organisations are making a stand against racism, celebrating action weeks, where there are many activities all over Europe to explore ways of dealing with discrimination in football.

The aim is to celebrate the contribution that ethnic minorities and foreign players make to our national game. Schools, community groups and football crowds will all be involved in making posters, speaking out against intolerance and learning how to give everyone in British society a chance to play football.

Glossary:

•racial taunts: bad and insulting words

•chants: songs and phrases repeated again and again by crowds

•campaign: an organised protest over a long period of time

•make a stand against: protest/refuse to accept or tolerate

•kick out of:remove

•football ground:the place where a game is played/stadium

•football pitch:the field where the game is played

ESSAY :

Are there any foreign players in your local teams? How are they accepted or welcomed by thepublic?

Do all members of your society get an equal chance to participate in spot? Give examples: young people; old people; women; ethnic minorities

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