Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s talk was so inspiring. It was firm and actual, full of stories that brought life and transported meaning. I wonder what those faces were doing under those masks as she courageously called out each person respectfully. "To tell only one part of a story is essentially to tell a lie. A story is true only when it is complete." Many European and Western countries, tell a one sided story throughout history. Art should be returned. If it is not, the people and or the country should be compensated. This hierarchy of taking what you want and declaring that those who the art was stolen from can not take care of it is demoralizing, but yet another example of colonialism.

She asks us to think about what should happen when an important object is taken from a person or community without permission. I would ask my students "What would be fair to do? How can listening to the people connected to an object help us make respectful decisions? I am curious of how they will respond as we are learning about Justice and Injustice through the Children Discovering Justice Curriculum, which will eventually lead into Justice and Native Peoples in third grade.

As an activity, I'd consider having students draw one important item of their choosing to be displayed in a museum. I would ask them to write a short story or poem that shares its story.