Ideas This Week
Ideas This Week is your hub for updates on all things Facing History—from announcements and featured press to expert interviews, impact stories, and essays on the ideas driving our work.
Facing History on Martin Luther King Day: A message to our educators
Martin Luther King Day is a moment for reflection and service; for considering the life and legacy of an extraordinary individual; and for recommitting ourselves to the unfinished work he championed. At a time of extraordinary bigotry and violence, Dr. King challenged all Americans to confront our history of racial discrimination, to open our eyes to injustice, and to be intentional about building a better future.
![B&W photo of Martin Luther King Junior giving a speech](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/martin_luther_king_jr_speech_b%26w.jpeg?h=243ab64f&itok=KywjX2nD)
COP26, Environmental Justice, and Human Rights
The 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) that took place in Glasgow, Scotland from October to November 2021 was, in many ways, a historic event. However, even though the COP remains a crucial space for international cooperation in the fight against climate disaster, there is notable consternation over the unique burdens that various policies may place on poorer nations and those most vulnerable to adverse climate events.
![Photo of Earth and African continent from space](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/photo_earth_from_space.jpeg?h=a8d93925&itok=dhi2SXIm)
6 New Books on Human Rights
Below are 6 books published in 2021 that speak to underacknowledged dimensions of human rights in history, teaching, and contemporary global society.
![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)
Remembering Little Rock
Facing History shares on efforts to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957 and provides resources for educators to use with their students to promote historical understanding, critical thinking, social-emotional learning, and civic agency.
![101st Airborne Division escort the Little Rock Nine students into Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/101st_Airborne_at_Little_Rock_Central_High_FH258604.jpg?h=e1c669e5&itok=8NEcapoX)
Disrupting the Legacies of Eugenics
Facing History shares on the history of eugenics and encourages educators to bring this important history into the classroom.
![Three skulls are lined in a row.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/three_skulls_eugenics_bw.jpeg?h=af8f816e&itok=HYoxwPqA)
Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries on Teaching Reconstruction
Facing History shares highlights from Dr. Jeffries’ remarks during his engaging presentation concerning the significance and legacy of the Reconstruction Era.
![Square headshot of Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-05/Dr_Hasan_Kwame_Jeffries_FH2191462_squarecrop.jpg?h=569f0efd&itok=19aFckKP)
Reflections on the State of Democracy in South Africa
Facing History partners share the key lessons learned after the events that preceded Mandela Day in July 2021.
![South Africa flag waving during the sunrise with mist fog.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/South_Africa_flag_sun_iStock-1060045112.jpeg?h=140710cd&itok=hv6bvGp9)
Dr. Gholdy Muhammad on Cultivating Genius
Facing History shares on Dr. Gholdy Muhammad's work which explores how literacy came to be regarded as a critically important lever of social and political transformation within the Black community.
![Cover of Dr. Gholdy Muhammad's book "Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy."](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/Cultivating_Genius.png?h=a535c023&itok=6gy_UBjq)
Reflecting on Anti-Black Violence, Justice, and Accountability
In the wake of Derek Chauvin’s conviction in the murder of George Floyd, we reflect on the historical and contemporary violence that surrounds this guilty verdict.
![A protester holding a painting of George Floyd and a sign that reads "Black Lives Matter"](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-09/GettyImages-1218644435.jpg?h=c56f4f07&itok=An23iXAy)
Making Black Lives Matter: A Retrospective
Explore how the Black Lives Matter movement has evolved since its emergence in 2013 and how we can move towards real change and transformation in eradicating anti-black violence.
![Graphic featuring African Americans standing against racism.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-09/iStock-1248777364.jpg?h=9e16a70f&itok=hvOYGj4d)
Afrofuturism and Black Joy
Incorporate Black joy into your teachings by highlighting the resilience, creativity, and humanity of the black community through the rich world of afrofuturism.
![African Woman Wearing Futuristic Face Mask and gold crown](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-09/iStock-1278418527.jpg?h=4362216e&itok=n-z7yrpi)