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5 Timely Reads on Genocide
In response to the outpouring of discussion and debate following President Biden’s statement that Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine constitutes genocide, Facing History provides five reads to address crucial questions educators and their students may be asking.
In the wake of President Biden’s recent statement that Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine constitutes genocide, we are witnessing an outpouring of discussion and debate surrounding the implications of this charge.
What follows are 5 timely reads from Facing History’s archives that speak to crucial questions educators and their students may be asking at this moment. These pieces feature the voices of both educators and leaders in the fight to prevent genocide around the world, and address the following questions:
- What is the meaning of the word “genocide” and how did this concept emerge?
- How and with what tools can educators effectively teach about genocide today?
- What does it look like for educators and students to contribute to the movement to prevent genocide?
- Where Did the Word "Genocide" Come From?
This piece addresses the origins of the word “genocide” in the work of Polish-born lawyer Raphael Lemkin and explores some of the ways in which his work must remain alive in the modern world. - Genocide (Still) Matters
This piece explores the significance of survivor testimony for disrupting and preventing genocide, and also highlights a number of powerful lessons and videos that educators can use in the classroom to explore genocides past and present. - How to Choose the Right Images When Teaching about Genocide
Images offer an important entry to stories of genocides that foster empathy and curiosity about the experiences of others. However, images can also shock us, jolting us into the immense amount of human suffering that occurred and prompting traumatic experiences. This piece presents four criteria that educators can consider when selecting images to incorporate into lesson plans. - Interview with Rwandan Genocide Survivor Jacqueline Murekatete
In this Facing History interview, we spoke with internationally recognized human rights activist and Rwandan genocide survivor Jacqueline Murekatete. Murekatete is the founder of the Genocide Survivors Foundation which is dedicated to preventing genocide and supporting survivors in need.
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5 Tools for Teaching About Genocide
Facing History grants educators the opportunity to take advantage of five virtual tours, exhibitions, and professional development resources to navigate the challenges that arise when teaching about genocide.
6 New Books on Genocide
Facing History identifies six books that elevate understudied aspects of multiple historical genocides and the connections between them to aid efforts of genocide prevention within a global climate of rising hate.
9 Classroom Resources on Genocide
In accordance with Genocide Awareness Month, Facing History offers nine classroom resources educators can utilize to help their students think critically about the specific historical and contemporary conditions under which genocides occurred to effectively unite head, heart, and conscience.
The Power of Native Language Revitalization
Learn about the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project, one of many grassroots efforts dedicated to healing the lasting wounds inflicted by residential schools and cultural genocide of Native peoples.
Where Did the Word "Genocide" Come From?
Facing History informs readers on the history of the term "genocide."
18 Teacher Resources on Native American History and Culture
Below are 18 resources that middle and high school teachers can turn to when developing lesson plans related to the roles of Native American peoples in American history and contemporary life. These resources include online exhibitions at the Smithsonian; the Smithsonian’s Native Knowledge 360° Educational Initiative; the work of the Mitchell and Hood Museums; and the growing work of Facing History in these thematic areas.
Genocide Education in Massachusetts: A forum for educators
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Boston, MA
With the recent passage of S2557, “An Act Concerning Genocide Education,” Massachusetts educators have been tasked with incorporating genocide and human rights issues into their classrooms. Join us for a day of learning and conversation as we seek to build a common understanding of the legislation and the resources we have to support you.
This event will be hosted in person.
Remembering Past Conflicts: Whose Experiences Do We Honour?
On-Demand
Virtual
Explore how we can engage with the history of armed conflict, reflecting on how and who we choose to remember, and how we can make the lessons of history feel relevant today.
Defining Genocide: The Attempt to Name and Prevent a Horrific Crime
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Virtual
In this virtual educator workshop in partnership with the New-York Historical Society, we look to remember the meaning of the word genocide and the conditions that drove a lawyer named Raphael Lemkin to coin this term to describe a horrific crime — a crime that prior to 1944 lacked a name and legal repercussions. By understanding the meaning of the term genocide and the human suffering to which it refers, our students will be able to use it with care while appreciating the need to wrestle with our obligations towards those victimized by a range of human rights violations.
Teaching the History and Legacies of Canada’s Residential Schools
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Virtual
In this interactive, facilitated online course, participants join a virtual community to explore the history and legacies of Canada’s Residential Schools, using primary source texts, survivors’ personal testimonies and live online learning classes that will equip educators to better understand the devastating history and the long-lasting impact of the Indian Residential School system, as well as Indigenous communities’ historic and contemporary fight for a promised education.
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