Student Forum with Samantha Power & Facing History

Houston, Texas - How can we equip students to work toward a better world? Last October, the Holocaust Museum Houston hosted a student forum exploring this question with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, professor and human rights activist Samantha Power and Facing History and Ourselves Senior Historian Dr. Mary Johnson. The sixty-five enthusiastic students who participated in this special opportunity came from seven public and private schools in Houston, Sugarland, San Antonio and Austin.

After the students toured the museum, Power engaged them in a thought-provoking discussion about her Pulitzer Prize-winning book A Problem from Hell: America in the Age of Genocide, which they had all read in preparation for the event. Through their questions and conversation, it was clear the students were eager to explore ways they could protect human rights and prevent violence.

"Why do you feel that American schools don't teach, in great detail, about genocide and ways we can stop and prevent it?" asked one student.
To help them consider what they can do to make the world safer and more humane, Dr. Johnson led the students in an activity called "Toolkits for Prevention," created by a Facing History teacher. Dr. Johnson and Ms. Power took part in lively interactions with the students who created their own toolkits that highlighted the need for education about genocide. Among their recommendations-how students can raise awareness about human rights crises by researching current events and creating multi-media resources.

"What became most clear during the process was that the students recognized how complex it is for America and other countries to respond to genocide taking place in other parts of the world, and were eager to find concrete actions they as students can take to make a difference," said Dr. Johnson.

Dr. Johnson also introduced Facing History's online module on transitional justice, which explores some of the issues and challenges societies face as they attempt to heal, repair and rebuild after genocide or other instances of mass violence.

The day ended with a concrete example of how students are working to make a difference by viewing the film, "Crisis in Rwanda", made last year for History Day by eighth graders, Kikani, Luke Butler, and Steve Shields.

A follow-up forum with the student group is planned for May.