A New Approach to Teaching the Reconstruction Era

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.

The January 6 insurrection remains important to understand and discuss, as well as the larger questions it raises about the state of U.S. democracy. A recent poll found that 52% of young people between 18 and 29 believe that either U.S. democracy is "in trouble" or "failed," while only 7% agree that it is "healthy," further highlighting the need to teach students about democratic institutions.

After 25 years of distinguished service to our organization, Dr. Karen Murphy, Facing History’s Director of International Strategy, will join our partner organization High Resolves as CEO of an initiative called The Human Responsibility Accelerator. In this article, we invited Karen to share a bit of what she has learned in more than two decades at Facing History.

One way to deepen our understanding of voting rights is to consider the experiences of people who have been disenfranchised over the course of our nation’s history and into the present. The Black community is one that has faced immense barriers to voting, both in the distant past and even into the present.

Learn about the risks new technologies pose to adults and adolescents and view resources available to help teach teenage students about media literacy, responsible use of social media, and surveillance capitalism.

This event is now closed to registrations.

Examine how the Reconstruction Era is remembered and the impact of its legacy on contemporary society with Dr. Hasan Kwame Jefferies, Associate Professor of History at The Ohio State University and scholar of African American history and contemporary Black politics.

Free and fair elections are the foundation of all democracies. The US Voting Rights Act of 1965 established protections for all Americans, especially for Black Americans. However the 2013 Supreme Court decision Shelby County v Holder dismantled key elements of the Voting Rights Act and voter suppression efforts are ongoing across the country.  Dr. Carol Anderson; professor, historian, and National Book Critics Circle Award winner, explores the history of the fight for African Americans' voting rights as part of the struggle for racial justice in the United States. This is the second installment in the year-long Facing History Now: Conversations on Equity and Justice virtual event series.

This webinar explores the many questions faced by educators in the wake of the events in Parkland, Florida.

Explore how educators can support students as changemakers today. This webinar will feature a conversation with activist Mary Beth Tinker, insights from educators, and a new teaching unit designed to promote civic skills in your students.

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.

Scholar Karlos K. Hill discusses the 1921 Tulsa race massacre and the lessons this history offers. This is a recording of session three of the 2021 Global Summit.