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.
Why Teach Reconstruction Today?
Studying the history of Reconstruction reveals that American history is lined with recurring cycles of social progress and backlash in which everyday people have surmounted immense barriers to drive powerful change.
![Man representing the Freedman's Bureau stands between armed groups of Euro-Americans and Afro-Americans.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-09/Freedman_bureau_harpers_cartoon_FH21213.jpg?h=83f3d97f&itok=jf0SD3Wz)
LGBTQIA+ Resources from Facing History
With the commencement of Pride Month, Facing History provides a number of resources that help educators explore LGTBQIA+ histories and experiences to ensure these themes remain central beyond this celebratory month.
![Cropped LGTBQIA+ history and why it matters banner.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/UpdatedLGBTQHistoryAndWhyItMattersBannerCropped1800_605px.jpeg?h=82fc6e7e&itok=SreY0hay)
How AAPI Thinkers are Redefining Asianness
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) thought leaders reveal their experiences with “single stories” to demonstrate what it can look like to push back against restrictive narratives that dominate American society.
![The loneliest Americans book cover.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/tlabook_large-jpg.jpeg?h=ed0b1a50&itok=HQUl1c8B)
Teaching About Anti-Asian Violence: Start with Yourself and Your Community
Most school curriculum fails to adequately address Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) histories and identities, which contributes to a widespread lack of understanding that fuels the anti-AAPI hate we see today. Facing History provides suggestions and resources for educators to better address AAPI histories so as to avoid continuing this damaging trend.
![Man holding stop Asian hate sign.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/iStock-1307873903.jpeg?h=140710cd&itok=kSZdGfCX)
Remembering Grace Lee Boggs
The story of Chinese American activist and philosopher, Grace Lee Boggs, provides an inspiring example of the effectiveness of cross-racial organizing work between Black and Asian communities in pursuing racial justice by discovering shared stakes, committing to collective action, and nurturing ongoing resistance.
![Grace Lee Boggs.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/Grace_Lee_Boggs_2012.jpeg?h=4c5c077f&itok=4q_QLFmO)
Learning from GLSEN
Learn about the history behind Gay-Straight alliance student groups and GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network.
![LGBTQ pride flag on chalkboard.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-05/LGBTQPrideFlagChalkboard_iStock-929777058%20%281%29.jpeg?h=8e4088dc&itok=R2ov_E-w)
Centering AAPI Students in the Classroom: An Expert Interview
Dr. Guofang Li and Dr. Nicholas D. Hartlep, leading scholars in the field of Asian-American Education, discuss obstacles to delivering quality education to Asian and Pacific Islander American (AAPI) students, the emergence and pervasiveness of the “model minority myth” (or “stereotype”), and how educators can actively center the needs and experiences of their AAPI students.
![Dr. Guofang Li and Dr. Nicholas D. Hartlep side-by-side headshots.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/GLandNH.jpeg?h=8869a3dd&itok=It89bQNM)
How to Build an Affirming Classroom in the Face of Anti-Trans Legislation
In response to the rise of legislation targeting transgender people, Facing History provides resources for educators to build an affirming, welcoming class community for your students, especially trans and non-binary students.
![Pink and blue chalk with transgender symbol stock photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/iStock-847839366.jpeg?h=140710cd&itok=0Ge59Obs)
3 Women Pioneers in Education
Facing History explores three women pioneers whose legacies continue to shape the contemporary educational landscape.
![Margaret Haley, Maria Montessori, and Mary McLeod Bethune.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/WomenEdPioneers.jpeg?h=77a1d1cf&itok=pkog83Y2)
Anti-Trans Legislation: How We Got Here and Why it Matters
Facing History describes the wave of Anti-Transgender legislation happening in the US, and how this affects our trans youth.
![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
Facing History summarizes three new books that have been released in the last year that address the ongoing struggle of women against 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)
January 6th
The January 6th investigation has deepened widespread concerns about rising threats of fascism, racism, white nationalism, and other phenomena that undermine justice for all. But in analyses that focus primarily on the role of white nationalism fomented within media echo chambers, for example, commentators have overlooked what may be a more pervasive parallel phenomenon: the widespread crisis of faith in U.S. media and institutions at large.
![Photo of Two People Watching the News on TV](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-04/two_people_watch_news_tv.jpeg?h=140710cd&itok=9u-6fk5n)