Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

Is there any point in discussing things that scare us, trigger trauma, or create controversy? What benefits might there be in discussing topics regarded as taboo?

Teaching Suggestion: Consider raising the question in the form of a debate or philosophical discussion. The following essay can then be read and discussed to ground the debate and contextualize the idea of living in a “dangerous time.”

Note: This is the first of several questions or activities that touch on sensitive topics. The resources included with the Short Activity below also provide helpful guidelines for facilitating sensitive discussions responsibly and will prove to be useful with the remainder of this Teaching Guide.

• This essay by James Baldwin eloquently explores what happens when adults do not teach difficult social topics in classrooms.
• This article from Western Michigan University explores the benefits and challenges of teaching taboo topics in college courses.

Short Activity

Conduct research and discuss desired outcomes to draft a set of conduct procedures and discussion agreements for safely exploring difficult topics as a class.