Student Texts
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Our searchable library of short texts offers a diverse mix of stories and perspectives. This multigenre, multimedia collection aligns with the Common Core's recommendations for text complexity and the Learning for Justice Social Justice Standards.

Choose from informational and literary nonfiction texts, literature, photographs, political cartoons, interviews, infographics and more. You can also filter by text type, grade level, subject and topic.

“The leveled texts have really helped me engage students and introduce them to complex topics in a way they can understand.”

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Social Justice Domain
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343 Texts

Visual

The Negro Motorist Green Book

These images are from The Negro Motorist Green Book 1940 edition. The Green Book, published from 1936 – 1964, served as a guide for African Americans traveling around the country during the Jim Crow segregation era. To explore the complete issues visit the New York Public Library Digital Collections at https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/collections/the-green-book#/?tab=ab…
by
William H. Green (editor)
Grade Level
Subject
History
Economics
Geography
Social Justice Domain
March 28, 2017
Informational

Race Against Time

Dozens of racially motivated murders took place in the South during the 1950s and 1960s. Time is running out to solve these cold cases.
by
Shaila Dewan
Grade Level
Subject
Civics
History
Economics
Geography
Social Justice Domain
July 5, 2014
Literature

For My People

In 1942, “For My People” won the Yale Series of Younger Poets award, and Margaret Walker became one of the youngest black writers to have published poetry in the 20th century. Her poem makes tangible the African American struggle, yet also brings to the forefront a hope for all people to “rise and take control” during a dark period in American history.
by
Margaret Walker
Grade Level
Subject
Civics
History
Economics
Geography
Social Justice Domain
December 30, 2015
Informational

Remarks by the President at Reception Commemorating the Enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act

In this speech, President Obama celebrates legislation that provides legal protection from crimes based on gender, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. In his remarks, Obama looks forward to further legislation that helps “the bells of freedom ring out a little louder.”
by
Barack Obama
Grade Level
Subject
Civics
History
Economics
Geography
Social Justice Domain
March 3, 2016
Informational

Orval Faubus Speech, September 1958

Gov. Orval E. Faubus of Arkansas delivered this speech on Sept. 18, 1958. In this speech, Faubus justifies his decision to shut down Little Rock’s public high schools for the year rather than complying with the Supreme Court’s order to continue with integration.
by
Orval Faubus
Grade Level
Subject
Civics
History
Economics
Geography
Social Justice Domain
July 2, 2014
Informational

A Personal Mission: Sammy Younge Jr.

Although raised in a prosperous and prestigious African-American home in Tuskegee, Ala., Sammy Younge found himself drawn most to the civil rights movement. While the cause cost him his life, his actions and determination helped to transform this Southern city.
by
Learning for Justice Staff
Grade Level
Subject
History
Social Justice Domain
July 31, 2018
Multimedia

My Identity

After growing up in foster care, Ashley, a young Native-American Caucasian woman, converts to Islam in hopes of finding structure in a life where it never existed. However, with that decision comes the risk of losing one of the few biological connections she still has.
by
Yasmin Mistry
Grade Level
Topic
Subject
History
Social Justice Domain
January 12, 2018