The document outlines Unit 6: Common Good, focusing on Black resistance and the importance of understanding personal responsibility for social justice and the common good. It emphasizes key learning outcomes related to the beatitudes, social injustices, and notable figures in history, particularly during Black History Month. Activities involve recognizing the contributions of Black activists through creative projects, aiming to connect historical struggles with contemporary themes of equity and dignity.

1. Unit 6: Common Good
A Lesson about Black Resistance: Black Canadians/Americans Fighting for
the Common Good

2. Religion 8, Unit 6: Common Good
Key Learning Outcomes:
Students will:
● explain how living the Beatitudes gives witness to a morally good life
● identify moments of inner conversation and explain the need to develop greater
understanding of personal responsibility to promote the common good
● explain some of the causes of social injustices, how they violate the common good, and
our personal responsibility to act for change
● recognize the different significant people who have acted for the greater good of all.
● KLO:
8.REL.LS.1.2 - Examines the political initiatives presently being promoted at various levels of civil society, and critiques how well each promotes
the dignity of the human person and the Common Good as it is defined in Sacred Scripture and Catholic social teaching.

3. What does it mean when we say the phrase “common good”?

4. Chapter 6: Review about Homelessness
Let’s review our discussion of the article about homelessness.
People who are experiencing homelessness
often go unnoticed by others. Pope Francis
spoke about this in a magazine interview he
gave in 2017, the day before the start of
Lent, saying that helping people in need “is
always right.” But he stressed that this must
be done with respect and compassion
because “tossing money and not looking in
[their] eyes is not…Christian” behaviour.

5. Black History Month: 2023’s Theme is Black Resistance
What does it mean to “resist(v)”? (verb - an action word)
Synonyms (similar meaning) Antonyms (different meaning)

6. What is Black History Month?
Diaspora (noun) - mentioned in the video
di·​
as·​
po·​
ra dī- a-sp(ə-)rə
ˈ dē-
c: the movement, migration, or scattering of a people away from
an established or ancestral homeland
the black diaspora to northern cities
After watching the video, let’s discuss these main points:
1) Why is it important for us to understand Black History
Month?
2) How does it relate to our CMHR project?
3) How does it relate to our topic of the “common good”?

7. Black History Month: Black Resistance Recognition Activity
The aim of this activity is to recognize all the hardships and sacrifices that was done (and continuously
do) by Black activists in order to fight for racial equity, anti-racism, and the common good.
In groups of 2-3, you will pair up and create an “instagram” post that highlights your person of
choosing. The requirements will be on the next slide.
Here are some notable people (among many) that you can choose from:
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Rosa Parks
- Viola Desmond
- Violet King
- Rosemary Brown

8. Things to Include in your “Instagram Post”
- Name (and a
username for the
“instagram” page)
- A picture of the activist
- A brief description of
what they have done
for the common good

9. Viola_D_Desmond
Businesswoman Viola Davis Desmond owned and operated a beauty
parlor and beauty school in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1946, she went to a
movie theatre and chose to sit on the ground floor, a section of the
theatre reserved for white patrons only. She was arrested, tried, and
convicted for tax evasion for not paying the one-cent tax difference on
the ground floor ticket. The conviction was upheld. In 2010, Nova Scotia
granted Desmond an official pardon and apology for the racism that she
and other Black Nova Scotians were subjected to. In 2016, Desmond
became the first Canadian woman to appear on a Canadian banknote.
Things to Include in your “Instagram Post”
- Name (and a
username for the
“instagram” page)
- A picture of the activist
- A brief description of
what they have done
for the common good