“How White People Became White” Reading - need refference

Encounter - Ask learners to share their insights from this chapter.  Use this to talk about the following concepts:  the idea that being ‘white’ has not always been as simple as the color of one’s skin found in this chapter and how immigration affected the debate and concept of race in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the US.

Reflect - Allow the discussion to flow but be prepared with guiding questions:
•    How has the bounds of who has been considered white change over time?
•    What images did reading this chapter conjure up for you?
•    What benefits did being white bring as described in this chapter?
•    Why would people want to limit who was considered ‘white?’
•    Who was able to make the distinction between ‘white people’ and ‘foreigners?’
•    If skin color was not the distinction in determining whiteness, what was? (question this deeply)
•    Reasoning from this article, which identity was more helpful for immigrants to be successful in America; being known by their racial assignment or by their country of origin? 
•    Do you think this has changed today?
 

Allow at least 30 minutes