Redefining Belonging: Promises of the Reconstruction Era

The Reconstruction Era (1865-1877) changed the United States in fundamental ways. By exploring this history, we can gain a deeper understanding of Reconstruction, birthright citizenship text of the 14th Amendment, and current conversations around the history of discrimination and its legacies. Now, as our nation continues to be faced with dilemmas of citizenship and belonging, we invite you to join us to learn from direct descendents of those involved in the struggle for equal rights, including Keith Plessy and Phoebe Ferguson of the Plessy & Ferguson Initiative. 

Participants will walk away with:

• A deeper understanding of Reconstruction, the 14th Amendment and birthright citizenship, and their legacies today.
• Insight into the activism that led to the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case and the ways this and other historical events and policies continue to impact education.
• Historical context on the ways New Orleans played a crucial role in the Reconstruction Era. 

Who this Webinar is for: District Administrators and Education Leaders

This is a Zoom webinar with live captioning. You’ll be able to participate using the chat, but will remain off camera. If this time doesn’t work for your schedule, be sure to register and we’ll notify you once the recording is available On-Demand. The webinar recording will be available within a week of the webinar.

Please note: The views expressed by guest speakers, both at our events and on external platforms, are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Facing History & Ourselves.

For school and district leaders who would like to continue their education after the webinar, we invite you to join us for our January 2026 learning journey to New Orleans. You can learn more about our trip here: Between History & Memory - Legacies of the Struggle for Civil Rights.