There is much for today's young people to learn from student civic-political participation in the past. Students have “chosen to participate” in consequential ways at critical moments throughout the past century of US history, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement. Join Facing History for a two Day Workshop exploring the role of youth activism in the Civil Rights Movement. We will focus on the Little Rock Nine and their efforts to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957—efforts that resulted in a crisis that historian Taylor Branch once described as "the most severe test of the Constitution since the Civil War." We will also touch on the 1963 Chicago Public School Boycott, the 1968 L.A. School Walkouts, and a framework for student civic-political participation in today’s digital age.
We’ll explore the strategies, risks, and historical significance of the students’ activism, while also considering bigger-picture questions about social progress. The historical moments explored offer students the opportunity to reflect on and gain insight into their own civic participation in the world today. When examining these moments, we can ask, for example: What did the students want to achieve? What were the risks? Was it worth it? What counts as success? And what can we learn from their example?
After this workshop, you will:
- Become part of the Facing History educator network, with access to a rich slate of online educator resources, including units and lesson plans, study guides, and multimedia
- Have access to Facing History’s digital resources
Note: An asynchronous assignment will be given as pre-work.
Recommended for 8th - 12th grade U.S. History and Humanities teachers. CTLE hours will be provided upon completion of the two part series for NY educators and Certificates of Attendance will be provided for New Jersey educators.
