Dr. Lorretta Johnson: Fighting for Equality
and Racial Justice
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This lesson introduces students to Dr. Lorretta Johnson, a leader in the American Federation of Teachers for more than four decades. Johnson grew up in the city of Baltimore and began her career as a classroom aide in the Baltimore City Public Schools. As a union leader and civil rights activist, Johnson has broken new ground, opened doors and been the voice for the voiceless. She has empowered all of those who work and learn within the four corners of a school building, particularly the “hidden workforce” of cafeteria staff, maintenance workers, teacher aides, bus drivers, librarians, secretaries, band leaders, sports coaches, patrollers and security guards. Her success has been a result of her sense of justice and commitment: her commitment to family, to community, to ensuring that young African American men and women succeed in life, and to fighting for the rights of children worldwide exploited in child labor and human trafficking.
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Step 1: Hook (5 minutes)
Dr. Johnson is well-known for her negotiating skills and getting to “yes.” In every part of life, negotiation is an important skill… and at the heart of negotiation is finding what we have in common to be more worthy than what sets us apart.
In this exercise, divide the class in groups of four to six. Their assignment is to find something in each group that they all have in common—for example, perhaps they are the fans of the same sports team, music, fashion, social media platform or store, or maybe they attend the same religious or community center. Emphasize that finding something in common is always the first step in moving forward from any disagreement.
To follow up, groups can write their consensus item and post them on the classroom wall.
In this exercise, divide the class in groups of four to six. Their assignment is to find something in each group that they all have in common—for example, perhaps they are the fans of the same sports team, music, fashion, social media platform or store, or maybe they attend the same religious or community center. Emphasize that finding something in common is always the first step in moving forward from any disagreement.
To follow up, groups can write their consensus item and post them on the classroom wall.
