Challenging Hate

Level(s): Grades 10 to 12

Overview

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In this lesson students learn how the Internet can be used to facilitate the promotion of tolerance and respect. The class begins with a discussion on how the Internet is used by hate organizations to disseminate their messages and how this medium is also being used by anti-hate organizations to counter hate. In a jigsaw activity, students visit and analyze the supporting Web sites of five anti-hate organizations/initiatives and then apply what they've learned to the development of their own anti-hate campaigns.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

be aware of the ways in which anti-hate organizations promote tolerance and respect
understand how the Internet can be used to facilitate the promotion of tolerance and respect
recognize the characteristics of a successful awareness campaign
understand the role all of us can play in countering racism and intolerance

Preparation and Materials

For this class, you will need access to five computers with Internet connections – one per group of students.

Procedure

Class Discussion

In the lesson Understanding Online Hate, we looked at why the Internet might be considered an ideal medium for spreading hate messages. Can anyone give me a few reasons?

compared with traditional methods of publishing hate propaganda, the Net offers an easier and less expensive way to produce and distribute materials
the Net can quickly reach a global audience
it facilitates networking among like-minded individuals and groups
it's an ideal medium for reaching young people
its multimedia capabilities can give hate a modern and polished veneer the global nature of the Net can make it easier to bypass laws

We also discussed how the Internet can be an effective medium for those who are fighting hatred and intolerance. Can anyone tell me how?

the Internet takes views and opinions that used to be clandestine and posts them in a public and global medium where they are out in the open for all to see
the Internet makes it easier to openly challenge misinformation provided by hate-mongers
by posting their views online, hate organizations make it easier for anti-racism and anti-hate organizations, law enforcement agencies, governments and educators to address the fallacies and prejudice in hate ideology
as with hate sites, the Internet permits anti-hate organizations to reach and network with a wide, global audience

Today we're going to look at how anti-hate and anti-racism organizations are using the Internet to combat hate.

To try to get top ranking in search results – which makes it more likely that people will click on their sites – hate groups create Web pages that contain a large number of keywords (words that will be picked up by search engines) embedded into the page coding. Anti-hate organizations know that the best way to fight this tactic is to beat hate mongers at their own game, by ensuring that their own Web sites, and their messages, are also well represented on Internet search engines.

Activity

Information Jigsaw

Set up five computer stations. On each of the five computers, have one of the following Web sites open. (See sidebar at right for addresses.)
- Tolerance.Org
- MTV.Org "Fight for your Rights"
- Britkid
- Youth Forums Against Racism
- Canadian Race Relations Foundation
Divide class into five groups.
Have each group send at least one representative to each computer station.
While at the computer station, students will research how the featured Web site is being used to address hate by answering the following questions.

Who is behind this Web site?
What is the purpose of the organization?
What is the purpose of this Web site?
What kinds of hate does it address?
Who do you think is/are the intended audience(s)?
Describe some of this organization's initiatives.
What Web capabilities are effectively used to promote its messages? (for example, visitors may be able to participate electronically in opinion polls or easily join the organization; a links page may be provided to other anti-hate groups; resources may be easily downloaded, etc.)
Which, if any, elements or initiatives do you think would resonate with youth?
Identify and list "best practices" from the Web site that you might like to integrate into your own educational or anti-racism campaign or anti-racism site.

Once students have collected their information, have them return to their group.
Have each of the five original groups go to one of the computer stations. Once there, the member who originally visited the Web site will present it to fellow group members.

Group Activity

Each group will apply what they have observed in their Web-based anti-racism models by developing a youth-oriented anti-hate campaign. Their campaign package should consist of:

an outline of the specific issue they intend to address and how they intend to create awareness (for example, through a contest, a forum, an Anti-Hate Day at the school)
the goals of their campaign
promotional materials (for example, posters, pamphlets, a mock-up of a Web page for a supporting Web site, etc.)

Once completed, groups will present their campaigns to the rest of the class. Groups will be assessed according to the following criteria:

Outline
Clearly identifies issue
(weak)   1      2      3      4      5   (strong)
Provides a comprehensive, "do-able" implementation plan
(weak)   1      2      3      4      5   (strong)
Clearly defined goals
(weak)   1      2      3      4      5   (strong)
Communicates campaign message effectively
(weak)   1      2      3      4      5   (strong)
Promotional Materials
Creative
(weak)   1      2      3      4      5   (strong)
Appealing
(weak)   1      2      3      4      5   (strong)
Effective
(weak)   1      2     3      4      5   (strong)
Informative
(weak)   1      2      3      4      5   (strong)
Good use of design elements
(weak)   1      2      3      4      5   (strong)
Total:                                                                                  /45

Although marks will be awarded to each group, have the class vote on their favourite campaign and implement it in your school or community.