Eighth Graders Explore Identity and Resilience Through "Black Like Me"

As part of Black History Month, English Teacher Alina Dunker-Ware designed a powerful learning experience for her eighth-grade students, using music and storytelling to explore themes of identity, inclusion, and resilience. At the heart of this lesson was "Black Like Me," a deeply personal song by Mickey Guyton, a groundbreaking African American country artist.

Students watched a video of Guyton’s performance at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards and a CMT interview where she discussed the song’s inspiration and her experiences navigating the music industry. These resources set the stage for thoughtful discussions about perseverance, inclusion, and identity.

To encourage personal reflection, Ms. Dunker-Ware introduced a Quick Write prompt inspired by Guyton’s lyrics: "They said if you work hard, you can be anything. But here I am, feeling like I’m not enough." 

Students wrote about times when they or someone they knew felt like an outsider despite their efforts. Those who preferred a visual response created sketches that captured emotions of exclusion and resilience.

“Storytelling, whether in narrative or lyric form, at its best, connects the human condition in a way that touches the soul of others, allowing them to relate to their own humanity,” said Dunker-Ware. “My goal is to provide the 8s with this opportunity through each assignment. They produced truly thoughtful pieces.”

Through this immersive lesson, students not only deepened their understanding of identity and inclusion but also recognized the power of storytelling in fostering empathy and awareness. Ms. Dunker-Ware’s thoughtful approach to the activity make it a meaningful, reflective experience—one that encouraged students to engage with Black History Month in a way that felt personal, relevant, and impactful.