COUNTERING XENOPHOBIA AND RACISM THROUGH SHORT STORIES FOR HISTORY STUDENTS

Short stories provide suitable reading materials to enrich the study of American History. Using literary works can help foster transformative history teaching, especially when discussing violent past construct a better future. This aims at examining two short that deal with racism and prejudice. Used as primary data are “Désirée’s Baby” (1893) which tells about racial intolerance in pre-Civil War plantation society; “Shame” (1964), story experienced by Black schoolboy. Critical method is applied making contextualization different historical periods. The results show (1) themes xenophobia, racism, evident these stories; (2) authorial backgrounds explain their dealing shown works; (3) inter-racial relations make good supplements for teaching In conclusion, literature beautifully condensed raise students’ awareness evil pasts grow empathy facing current realities order build more just, civil, compassionate society