OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Clergy Interview
- Invite a member of the Jewish or Christian clergy (working or retired) in your community to speak to your class about his/her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement or another social justice project. Ask the clergyperson to focus on the reasons for his/her involvement (both personal and religious), the way in which he/she participated, the response of his/her congregation, and his/her thoughts on what role clergy should
play in social justice issues (particularly divisive ones). You also may want
to ask the clergyperson to answer the question: “What do you see as the civil
rights issues of today?” This activity can be done at the beginning of the lesson as an introduction to the topic or at the end of class as a final wrap-up activity.
- Introduce the clergy person to your class and explain the reason for his/her visit.
- Give the clergyperson 15-20 minutes to speak to your class.
- Give the students sufficient opportunity to ask questions and hear responses.
