Got your back: Class game about racism and bystander attitudes

How do you react when you experience something racist? How can you best assist a target? What makes you not respond or respond to racist incidents and statements? How can young people respond safely when they witness racist incidents and statements?

In the role play Got Your Back, students experience unfair treatment and racism to stimulate empathy and an active bystander attitude.

Game description

The game consists of two major parts, each ending with a discussion in which players can share their opinions and experiences with discriminatory behavior, either inside or outside the game.

In the first part, players take on the role of characters who have to score as many points as possible in different areas of life. Scoring points largely depends on luck, but some players will systematically be less lucky. That is frustrating, but will also make them think about unfair systems.

The active bystander attitude is central to the second part of Got Your Back . During this round of play, players are presented with various situations of discriminatory behavior and must choose the best possible response. However, they are only allowed to choose from the responses they have received, which means they will sometimes have to choose responses that they are less supportive of.

Goals

While playing this game, students experience for themselves how frustrating unfair systems can be and discuss responses to discriminatory behavior. Through their active involvement in the subject, they not only learn more about the impact of racism and discrimination, but they will also take action more quickly.