Think of your own experience of race and how it has shaped your life. Write a short essay describing the experience of the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner and so many other black men who have been shot or killed in this country over the years.

Writing, analyze your experience by answering the following questions.

1. What were your initial perceptions of the situation? As you began the experience, you brought into the situation certain perceptions about the experience and the people involved.

2. What previous experiences had you undergone? Identify some of the influences that helped to shape these perceptions. Describe the actions that you either took or thought about taking.

3. As you became involved in the situation, what experiences in the situation influenced you to question or doubts your initial perceptions?

4. In what new ways did you view the situation that would better explain what was taking place? Identify the revised perceptions that you began to form about the experience.