This document provides suggestions for an activity where a friend explores their multiple identities. It involves choosing an identity theme to research and experience together through related activities like visiting cultural centers, attending celebrations, or consuming media. Example identity themes include ethnicity, and suggested books, movies, and activities are listed to learn more about different identities through stories in various mediums.

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How do you identify yourself? Most people connect themselves to specific groups of people:
With your friend, start to explore your multiple identi- about that theme. Some examples include visiting a
ties with the “What Are You?” exercise listed in the first cultural center or another town or neighborhood; at-
section of Beginning Activities. Write some of your re- tending a cultural celebration, museum, or art gallery;
sponses to the right. Together with your friend, pick an seeing a film based on an identity; eating a particular
“identity” theme to explore—this could be about your or kind of food; watching a related dance or theater per-
your friend’s ethnicity or other group that you identify formance; researching the theme at the library together;
with or would like to identify with more strongly. making a collage based on that identity; or interview-
Plan ahead and research some activities that you can ing someone else who shares a similar identity.
do together to celebrate, participate in, or learn more
Suggested books:
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Growing Up Latino: Memoirs and Stories edited by Harold Augenbraum and Ilan Stavans
Miraculous Day of Amalia Gomez by John Rechy
America is in the Heart: A Personal History by Carlos Bulosan * Be sure these books
The Rice Room: Growing Up Chinese-American from Number Two Son to Rock’n’Roll by Ben Fong-Torres and movies are
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the West by Dee Alexander Brown age-appropriate
Push: A Novel by Sapphire for your and your
A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by Run Suskind
friend’s reading
and viewing levels.
Suggested movies: Some of these sug-
Eyes on the Prize gestions are more
Africans in America: America’s Journey Through Slavery appropriate for
Stand and Deliver older youth.
ACTIVITY
Boys Don’t Cry
Joy Luck Club
Real Women Have Curves
Smoke Signals
Mi Vida Loca
46 mentoring journal

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ACTIVITY
Learn about other identities through stories in print and film. Check your local library or online for age-appropriateness and reading/
viewing level. Think about how the author or director explains or shows an identity. Can you relate to any part of someone else’s identity?
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