Teaching Reconstruction Is Absolutely Necessary

As some states and districts drop mask mandates amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many students continue to petition and stage walkouts to demand safer health protocols. Some students are protesting against instances of racism and sexual assault as well. These LFJ resources provide guidance for supporting your students who are demanding that their concerns are taken seriously.
Current events may be hard to grapple with as multiple historically Black colleges and universities faced bomb threats, Minneapolis police fatally shot Amir Locke, and many states and districts continue to ban teaching inclusive books and talking about race. Amidst these aggressions, we want to remind Black educators to practice self-care—and all educators to elevate the importance of Black students’ experiences and their mental health. These resources can help.
As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, educators across the nation will teach about King’s life and works. Countless others will echo his famous quotes. Few will offer a full picture of who King truly was—or of the collectivist movement that surrounded him. These resources can help you offer a fuller account of King, his peers and the ongoing legacy of their shared dreams and actions.