White Saviorism & American Imperialism in Vietnam 

Thanh Pham’s Oral History
2-Hour Lesson Segment
Introduction to Ethnic Studies (9th Grade)
Constructed by Rob Holland

Cultural Assimilation, U.S. Imperialism, White Savior Complex

Note: Please read through the “curriculum-thinking/rationales” behind this lesson before reading the hour-by-hour explanations.

Download Lesson Plan

About the Lesson & Learning Objectives

Notes on Background Information: This lesson segment works best if students have completed the following lessons:

  1. A lesson on the Carlisle School that uses these documents. Documents B (by Richard H. Pratt) and C (by Ellis B. Childers) will be referenced in this lesson plan.

  2. A lesson on the Vietnam War. This does not have to be a full lesson, but students should have some background information on:

  • The basic facts of the war (who, what, when, where, why) and the global ideological tensions that led to the war.

  • Americans’ views of Vietnamese people during the war.

    1. How does the White Savior trope influence our views on freedom and liberation for POC?

    2. How has US imperialism abroad contributed to the assimilation of Vietnamese-Americans in the United States?

    3. What aspects of your culture do you value most? What is lost through assimilation?

    1. Students will be able to identify white saviorism and reflect on its dangers as evidenced by an exit ticket and discussion on the topic.

    2. Students will be able to define assimilation and reflect on their own experiences with it as evidenced by a discussion and written reflection.

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