CircleBridge bookMake room for overlooked stories
The chapter highlights the agency of people telling their own stories and the intergenerational effects of historical events. A less visible life can reveal something important about the history surrounding it. The work is not simply a hunt for more anecdotes; it asks who has the opportunity to interpret an event and whose experience is routinely left out. Readers can apply this by noticing gaps in a curriculum, archive, or organizational history and building a respectful process for contributors to decide what they wish to share.
A practice to try
Choose one familiar historical account. List the people whose experience appears and those whose experience is missing. Find a first-person source that adds a perspective, and compare what changes.
School or classroom
Compare a textbook account with a first-person family or community narrative.
University or college
Ask students to examine whose sources shape a historical interpretation.
Organization or community
Invite long-serving and less visible staff to contribute to an institutional history, with permission and review.
Reflection questions from the book
The Power of Personal Storytelling
The Green Siblings Project emerged from a desire to tell a personal family story that had been shared publicly but never fully explored from the family’s perspective. Reflect on a personal or family story that you believe has been misunderstood or only partially told. Why is it important for stories to be told by those who lived them, and how does perspective influence the way history is understood?
Hidden Stories and Untold Histories
Scott Green’s story, overshadowed by the more public experiences of his siblings, highlights the importance of uncovering less visible histories. Think about a historical event you’ve learned about where certain voices were overlooked or left out. How might telling those hidden stories change how we understand the past?
Social Justice and Action
The Green Siblings Project emphasizes social justice through themes like identity, loss, growth, and action. Reflect on a social justice issue that resonates with you. What personal experiences or stories have shaped your perspective on this issue, and how can storytelling be used to inspire action and create positive change?
Recognizing and Honoring Personal Narratives
Treopia Washington initially downplayed the importance of her own story, focusing on those of her brothers. Have you ever dismissed your own story or experience as unimportant? How can recognizing the value of your personal narrative contribute to collective understanding and inspire others to share their stories?
Companion guidance by Scott Simpson and Sharla Steever. Consult the book alongside these resources; activities and summaries do not replace the complete book.