Activity time: 10 minutes

Materials for Activity

• Copy of the story "Life of an Ally"

Preparation for Activity

• Read the story until you are comfortable presenting it.
• Optional: Make copies of the story for youth to share and read along.

Description of Activity

Youth hear a story about Juliette Hampton Morgan.

Tell the group that they will hear a story about a woman who acted with courage. Tell or read the story. Here are questions to spark a discussion after the story:

• Based on the definition and situations read aloud during the Opening and Activity 1, do you think that Juliette Morgan Hampton acted with courage?
• What actions would she have needed to take-or not take-for you to think the opposite?
• What do you think it felt like to be isolated as Juliette worked for justice in the face of so much injustice? Have you ever felt like that?
• Refer to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. What were some of the needs the African Americans in Montgomery had difficulty meeting? How was Juliette trying to help African Americans meet these needs?
• What were some of the negative consequences of Juliette's actions? Does knowing the severity of Juliette's anxiety attacks make her appear more courageous?
• Can anyone share with the group what we mean when we call someone an ally? (If no one answers, say an ally is someone who supports and stands up for the rights and dignity of individuals and identity groups other than their own. Definition from Teaching Tolerance.) Was Juliette an ally to African Americans?
• If others who agreed with Juliette would have become allies along side her, what might the benefits have been, for both African Americans and Juliette?

Including All Participants

Have enough copies of the story to share so that visual learners can follow along.