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Topics for Composing
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1. Analysis. Explain Mckesson’s extended metaphor comparing white supremacy to a bully.
What are the most significant similarities, and why did he choose this metaphor for his
argument?
2. Argument. To what extent is Mckesson correct in characterizing the social media information
that appears on Facebook and other sites as “abuse”? In what ways do your experience and
additional research support or contradict this characterization?
3. Connection. Mckesson writes, “I stress the importance of imagining our ideal world because
Changing the World
we naturally gravitate toward methods for achieving our desired outcomes.” What do you
imagine your ideal world to be? What are the bullying forces in your own life, and how might
you confront them in a manner that’s similar to the way that Mckesson is working to confront
the bully of white supremacy?
4. Speaking and Listening. According to the National Center for Education Statistics and
Bureau of Justice, about 20percent of students ages 12 to 18 have experienced bullying.
Ask friends, family members, teachers, and others about their experiences with bullying,
as victims, perpetrators, or bystanders. Listen carefully to their stories, taking notes if
appropriate, and share your findings with your class or a small group. In what ways were their
experiences and conclusions about bullying similar to or different from those described by
Mckesson?
5. Research. Mckesson refers to the historical period of Jim Crow as an example of white
supremacy. Research more about this time period and explain what has changed in
America — and what has not — since that time.
6. Research. The Black Lives Matter movement, of which Mckesson is a part, gained national
recognition in response to the killings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner
in New York City, by police officers in 2014. Research the movement: its activities, aims,
accomplishments, opposition, and influence since then.
7. Creative Writing. Write a short story from the point of view of a bully. Include details of
setting, characterization, and conflict that illustrate some of the ideas of power and fear that
Mckesson presents in his piece.

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