Monthly Highlights – February 2023
This Black History Month, the California History-Social Science Project is amplifying resources that highlight the African American experience and support equitable access to educational success. The California History-Social Science Project is one of nine subject matter projects within the larger California Subject Matter Project, which serves over 25,000 educators throughout California across 82 regional sites. Take a look at these resources that amplify Black History and excellence and are informed by our interdisciplinary work with science, math, reading, art and global education.
Featured Resources
Black History is More than Civil Rights History
- In this blog, Vanessa Madrigal-Lauchland offers a brief overview of of the history of Black History Month and resources that offer educators an accessible way to consider how classroom lessons are helping students understand the diversity of the American experience, how to support civic engagement, develop historical empathy, and hone critical thinking skills for students.
- Global Competence is the disposition and knowledge to understand and act on issues of global significance. Those issues are identified in the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by countries to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all (United Nations). Globally competent individuals are life-long learners who understand these issues and have an appreciation for cultural differences, an ability to understand and consider multiple perspectives, use critical and comparative thinking skills as well as problem-solving abilities, and are comfortable with ambiguity and change.
- Visit the California Global Education Project to learn more about Global Competence, and how to support students as they investigate the world, consider multiple perspectives, communicate ideas, and take action.
- Have you wondered how to incorporate social justice into the classroom? The California Reading & Literature Project offers some ideas with these resources on how to highlight culturally responsive books.
- Each of these two books also contains a rating based on how it addresses the four domains of the social justice standards and free downloadable classroom-ready resources.
- History-Social Science Standard 8.9 Students analyze the early and steady attempts to abolish slavery and to realize the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.
- This set examines the actions of the enslaved, free blacks, and whites who worked to bring about an end to slavery. It also examines the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and other measures intended to protect the institution of slavery. This inquiry set asks, “How did people work to end slavery and what obstacles did they face?”
- History-Social Science Standard 8.10 Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.
- By examining actions and words of black and white Americans, slaves, and government officials, this set is designed to help students understand how the meaning and purpose of the Civil War evolved from 1861 to 1865. This Inquiry Set revolves around the question, “How and why did the war become a war to end slavery?”
- History-Social Science Standard 8.11 Students analyze the character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction.
- This 8th grade lesson is about citizenship from the perspective of African Americans after the Civil War. The purpose of this lesson is for students to consider the challenges that African Americans faced in achieving full citizenship rights, and actions they took to address this inequality.
- History Social-Science Standards
- 8.11.3 Students analyze the character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction…Understand the effects of the Freedmen’s Bureau and the restrictions placed on the rights and opportunities of freedmen, including racial segregation and “Jim Crow” laws.
- 11.1.4 Examine the effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction and of the industrial revolution, including demographic shifts and the emergence in the late nineteenth century of the United States as a world power.
- This primary source set is centered around the question: “How did W.E.B. Du Bois’s research challenges dominant narratives about black Americans during the Jim Crow period?”
- History Social-Science Standards
- This lesson aligns with the 9th – 10th grade reading and writing literacy standards, as well as the 11th grade history content standards.
- 11.10.4 Examine the roles of civil rights advocates (e.g., A. Philip Randolph, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X,Thurgood Marshall, James Farmer, Rosa Parks), including the significance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s“Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “I Have a Dream” speech.
- The lesson examines excerpts from both “A Call for Unity,” and “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Students will cite evidence from both documents in order to answer the following focus question: How did the “Letter from a Birmingham Jail “address those opposed to the civil rights movement?
- History-Social Science Standard: 12.8 Students evaluate and take and defend positions on the influence of the media on American political life. 1. Discuss the meaning and importance of a free and responsible press. 2. Describe the roles of broadcast, print, and electronic media, including the Internet, as a means of communication in American politics.
- This inquiry set asks students to compare the stories of Emmett Till and Trayvon Martin with a specific focus on media coverage of each event. Through this case study, students will find evidence to determine ways in which the internet has affected the role of the media in shaping how the public learns about news, and how it impacts social activism.
- History-Social Science Standard 12.2 Students evaluate and take and defend positions on the scope and limits of rights and obligations as democratic citizens, the relationships among them, and how they are secured.
- This inquiry set offers legal and historical definitions of citizenship. Students learn about the ways in which the meaning of citizenship has been contested and reshaped over time by court challenges, political decisions, and shifts in immigration.
Political Activism in LGBTQ Communities
- History-Social Science Standards:
- Grades 9-12 Historical and Social Sciences Analysis Skills - Historical Interpretation Skill 3 Students interpret past events and issues within the context in which an event unfolded rather than solely in terms of present-day norms and values.
- Grade 11: 11.10 Students analyze the development of federal civil rights and voting rights. 11.10.5 Discuss the diffusion of the civil rights movement of African Americans from the churches of the rural South and the urban North, including the resistance to racial desegregation in Little Rock and Birmingham, and how the advances influenced the agendas, strategies, and effectiveness of the quests of American Indians, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans for civil rights and equal opportunities.
- This inquiry set uses primary sources for students to investigate intersectional experiences of LGBTQ, African American, Latinx, and other communities and how the search for equality shaped them all. These documents reveal the multiple voices and nuanced layers of identity that have characterized the modern LGBTQ community in the United States, particularly in California. Designed for use within Ethnic Studies classrooms and excellent opportunity to teach to the FAIR Act.
Scholarly Work
Beyond Banneker : Black Mathematicians and the Paths to Excellence, by Erica N. Walker. (Albany, NY: SUNY Press, 2014).
- Erica N. Walker presents a compelling story of Black mathematical excellence in the United States. Much of the research and discussion about Blacks and mathematics focuses on underachievement; by documenting in detail the experiences of Black mathematicians, this book broadens significantly the knowledge base about mathematically successful African Americans. Beyond Banneker demonstrates how mathematics success is fostered among Blacks by mathematicians, mathematics educators, teachers, parents, and others, a story that has been largely overlooked by the profession and research community. Based on archival research and in-depth interviews with thirty mathematicians, this important and timely book vividly captures important narratives about mathematics teaching and learning in multiple contexts, as well as the unique historical and contemporary settings related to race, opportunity, and excellence that Black mathematicians experience. Walker draws upon these narratives to suggest ways to capitalize on the power and potential of underserved communities to respond to the national imperative for developing math success for new generations of young people. Annotation from publisher.
Histories of Racial Capitalism, edited by Destin Jenkins and Justin Leroy. (New York: Columbia University Press, 2021)
- Scholars consider the utility of the concept of Racial Capitalism across historical settings. These scholars offer dynamic accounts of the relationship between social relations of exploitation and the racial terms through which they were organized, justified, and contested. Throughout, the contributors consider and challenge how some claims about the history and nature of capitalism are universalized while others remain marginalized. By theorizing and testing the concept of racial capitalism in different historical circumstances, this book shows its analytical and political power for today's scholars and activists. Annotation adapted from publisher
“Lessons in Black Excellence Making Black Scientists: A Call to Action,” by Donna Riley, Marybeth Gasman and Thai-Huy Nguyen (Harvard University Press, 2019. 253 Pp. 871–871 Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 365, no. 6456 (2019).
- Data and success stories reveal how to ensure that African American students thrive in the STEM classroom In Making Black Scientists, Marybeth Gasman and Thai-Huy Nguyen examine African American access to STEM careers through stories and data that describe the successful experiences of faculty, staff, and students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Annotation from publisher
Race for Profit : How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership, by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2019)
- Taylor chronicles the twilight of redlining and the introduction of conventional real estate practices into the Black urban market, uncovering a transition from racist exclusion to predatory inclusion. Widespread access to mortgages across the United States after World War II cemented homeownership as fundamental to conceptions of citizenship and belonging…As new housing policies came into effect, the real estate industry abandoned its aversion to African Americans, especially Black women, precisely because they were more likely to fail to keep up their home payments and slip into foreclosure. Annotation adapted from publisher.
The Color Pynk : Black Femme Art for Survival, by Omise’eke Natasha Tinsley. (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2022)
- Tinsley examines contemporary Black femme cultural production: the music of Kelsey Lu and Janelle Monáe; the visual work of Juliana Huxtable; Janet Mock's writing/directing of the TV show Pose, and the creations of Tourmaline; the fashion of Indya Moore; and (F)empower. She is interested in Black femme representations in film, popular music, television, graphic novels, and poetry to conceptualize Black femme as figuration: that is, as a set of consciously, continually rescripted cultural and aesthetic practices that disrupt conventional meanings of race, gender, and sexuality"-Annotation from publisher
Picture Books (#KatesBookClub)
An American Story, words by Kwame Alexander; art by Dare Coulter
- From the fireside tales in an African village, through the unspeakable passage across the Atlantic, to the backbreaking work in the fields of the South, this is a story of a people's struggle and strength, horror and hope. This is the story of American slavery, a story that needs to be told and understood by all of us. A testament to the resilience of the African American community, this book honors what has been and envisions what is to be. Annotation from publisher
- Book Club note: “How do you tell an American story? A story of struggle, a story of strength. A story of horror, a story of hope. A story of survival that must be told…a story of us.” With art that touches the core of our hearts, this book is the perfect book to begin conversations with young learners about hard history. This book empowers all to be brave enough to hold onto hope and persist.
The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States, words by Alliah L. Agostini; art by Sawyer Cloud
- Learn about the events that led to emancipation and why it took so long for the enslaved people in Texas to hear the news. The first Juneteenth began as “Jubilee Day,” where families celebrated and learned of their new rights as citizens. As Black Texans moved to other parts of the country, they brought their traditions along with them, and Juneteenth continued to grow and develop. Annotation from publisher
- Book Club note: this incredible picture book offers young readers a clear and vibrant explanation of Jubilee Day. A must-read!
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, words by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson; art by Nikkolas Smith
- A young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders. But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived. Annotation from Publisher
- Book Club note: Black history does not begin with enslavement. This picture book takes young readers on a journey back through the generations, and begins a young child’s family history with laughter, joy, language, and family in Africa. While resilience and overcoming are also at the heart of this book, it offers students an age-appropriate and beautiful accounting of Black history that begins with pride and love.
28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World, words by Charles Smith Jr.; art by Shane Evans
- Each day features a different influential figure in African-American history, from Crispus Attucks, the first man shot in the Boston Massacre, sparking the Revolutionary War, to Madame C. J. Walker, who after years of adversity became the wealthiest black woman in the country, as well as one of the wealthiest black Americans, to Barack Obama, the country's first African-American president. Annotation adapted from Titlewave
A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis, words by Matt de la Pena; art by Kadir Nelson
- On the eve of World War II, African-American boxer Joe Louis fought German Max Schmeling in a bout that had more at stake than just the world heavyweight title. For much of America, their fight came to represent America’s war with Germany. This elegant and powerful picture book biography centers on this historic fight in which the American people came together to celebrate our nation’s founding ideals. Annotation by publisher
- Book Club note:The illustrations bring this story to life. This book is a terrific opportunity for students to think about goal-setting, as the story highlights Joe Louis' work ethic and determination on his quest to become the world heavyweight champion. Check out the author and illustrator's "ticket" on the back cover. Great art project!
A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the 1963 March on Washington, words by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders; art by Byron McCray
- On August 28, 1963, a quarter of a million activists and demonstrators from every corner of the United States convened for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It was there and then that they raised their voices in unison to call for racial and economic justice for all Black Americans, to call out inequities, and ultimately to advance the Civil Rights Movement. Every movement has its unsung heroes: individuals who work in the background without praise or accolades, who toil and struggle without notice. One of those unsung heroes was at the center of some of the most important decisions and events of the Civil Rights Movement. That hero was a quiet man, a gay African American man. He was Bayard Rustin. Annotation by publisher
- Book Club note: This fascinating story of Bayard Rustin and the role he played in the 1963 March on Washington is an excellent opportunity to address requirements within the FAIR Act.
I am Every Good Thing, words by Derrick Barnes; art by Gordon C. James.
- The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. And other times he's afraid, because he's so often misunderstood and called what he is not. So slow down and really look and listen, when somebody tells you--and shows you--who they are. There are superheroes in our midst! Annotation from publisher
- Book Club note: Talk about affirmations! Derrick Barnes’s powerful words remind students that they can be many things: a friend, a hand to hold; they can be afraid; they are powerful; they are WORTHY TO BE LOVED.
Art from Her Heart: Folk Artist Clementine Hunter, words by Kathy Whitehead; art by Shane Evans
- Can you imagine being an artist who isn't allowed into your own show? That's what happened to folk artist Clementine Hunter. Her paintings went from hanging on her clothesline to hanging in museums, yet because of the color of her skin, a friend had to sneak her in when the gallery was closed. With lyrical writing and striking illustrations, this picture book biography introduces kids to a self-taught artist whose paintings captured scenes of backbreaking work and joyous celebrations of southern farm life. They preserve a part of American history we rarely see and prove that art can help keep the spirit alive.
- Book Club note: Clementine Hunter’s art reminds us that we are never too old to try something new, that our supplies do not have to be perfect to result in beautiful art. Her story tells us that now is the perfect time to act, to create, and to learn