![Facing History Student Leadership group photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/2_1_320x160/public/2022-09/Los_Angeles_Summit_Student_Leadership_2018_%20FH287433.jpg?h=2a1d0182&itok=oGAVusGm)
Upstander
A person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person being attacked or bullied.
We believe every student can become an upstander, whether by challenging negative stereotypes with family, standing up to a bully in their school, or encouraging civil discourse when neighbors disagree. Students in Facing History classrooms learn about the power of individual choices to shape history and explore how each of us can participate as citizens to create a more humane, just and compassionate world. With the readings and resources collected below, we invite you and your students to discover what it means to be an Upstander.
![Cartoon of speaker and audience.](/sites/default/files/brightcove/videos/images/posters/image_656.jpg)
[MUSIC PLAYING]
![Student-led teaching session takes places in a classroom.](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_480/public/2022-09/Chicago_Student_Led_Teaching_2019_FH2101429.jpg?itok=Phye7o2F)
What Difference Can a Word Make?
What encourages people to act on behalf of others? Do words have the power to influence the choices people make? In 2014, two New Jersey high-school students began a campaign to promote a word, upstander, that gave a name to a behavior that is crucial for building stronger communities and a more humane world. Read and share “What Difference Can a Word Make?” and consider what encourages people to act on behalf of others.
Upstander Stories
Bullying at School
![Diverse hands reaching to sun.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-07/reaching_344329793_o.jpg?h=d614c65a&itok=f-2GB-lE)
What it Takes to Be an Upstander
![The word "FEAR" is being erased from a blackboard.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-09/Fear_graphic_iStock-1173054581.jpeg?h=140710cd&itok=Rcq7IWi9)
Young Poll Workers as Upstanders
![Ballot submission.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-09/Ballot_Submission.jpeg?h=64bf5bba&itok=gQHEAEFF)
Meet the History-Makers of Tomorrow
![A number of hands are brought into the center of the picture and stacked on one another.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-08/HandsIn.jpg?h=ec041e41&itok=HuzsU4rM)
Leaving a Positive Footprint
![](/sites/default/files/brightcove/videos/images/posters/image_949.jpg)
How to Be an Upstander: Acting against Indifference
![A close up of a marble statue with hands clasped together.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-07/Against_indifference_1440x560.jpeg?h=b1512c13&itok=ZU2fAuwn)
If Not Me
![](/sites/default/files/brightcove/videos/images/posters/image_1764.jpg)
Yellow Fever Upstanders
![Three nuns are featured on the Memphis Upstanders Mural, a painting on a brick building in Memphis, TN.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-07/YellowFeverUpstanders_FH249659.jpg?h=cd7d7283&itok=MOKc8y-G)
A Young Upstander Stands Up to Hate
![Students participate in a group activity.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/2015_20150813_TreyClark_0419_FH221009.jpg?h=2f6148de&itok=YBxcFD7A)
On Educating Upstanders - Ervin Staub
![](/sites/default/files/brightcove/videos/images/posters/image_1695.jpg)
Donate now and together we'll build a better world
You might also be interested in…
5 New Books on Women's History for 2022
![Book Cover of Woman: The American History of an Idea](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/woman_book_cover_image_red.jpeg?h=ca0659a5&itok=HGXdCSu2)
4 Resources on Refugee Crises in Global Context
![The definition of refugee spotlighted on a page](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/refugee_typed_definition_spotlight_image.png?h=a6c55029&itok=aVin1aQI)
10 Virtual Exhibitions on Women's History
![Woman waving at her computer while on a virtual call](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/woman_waving_computer_video_photo.jpeg?h=140710cd&itok=9ZnAKPzd)
Ketanji Brown Jackson and the Power of Representation
![Headshot of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/Ketanji_Brown_Jackson_headshot.jpeg?h=f185acf5&itok=gMz0QTMM)
6 New Books on Human Rights
![The words, "human rights" are highlighted within a text.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/istock-178100128_human_rights_text.png?h=a6c55029&itok=rh8-tcu0)
Anti-Trans Legislation: How We Got Here and Why it Matters
![crowd of people outside with a sign raised to protect trans kids](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/protect_trans_kids_sign_photo.png?h=a6c55029&itok=yP1CBUpC)
#MeToo Past and Present: 3 New Books on Challenging Gender Violence
![Colorful quilted portrait of activist Tarana Burke](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/tarana_colorful_quilt_graphic.jpeg?h=1be3eeeb&itok=_rUL5irF)
5 New YA Books on Women's History
![Patriotic Graphic with Banner that reads Good Girls Don't Make History](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/Good_girls_dont_make_history_graphic.jpeg?h=a3f48866&itok=PmROzEKj)
10 Women Who Made History
![Mary Church Terrell in chair black and white photo](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/Mary_Church_Terrell_chair_b%26w_photo_1.png?h=49ae90d4&itok=B3I2wjCQ)
5 Classroom Resources on Women's History
![Women's History Month Graphic](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/womens_history_month_graphic.jpeg?h=97a06f33&itok=IHPxxsd_)
Competing Visions of Black Civic Participation
![Photo of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Talking](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/MartinLutherKing_MalcolmX_talking_photo.jpeg?h=1cd998b4&itok=24p0LYIf)
Why Genocide Recognition Matters
![Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization: The Genocide of The Armenians cover.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/CAHCGOA.jpeg?h=c58b31e4&itok=04yJPKcV)