Teaching Hard History With Primary Sources

This year, the Fourth of July arrives amid protests against racism and police brutality toward Black Americans and a focus on the role white supremacy has always played in the United States. As these resources show, this holiday and its symbols are tied to a long tradition of protest and demands that our nation make good on its promise of freedom for all.
The Summer issue of Teaching Tolerance is available online! In addition to these stories, this issue highlights expert voices on teaching about American slavery and Reconstruction, asks three young gun violence activists about the future of the resistance, and much, much more. It also features one of our all-time favorite One World posters (available in both English and Spanish!).
LGBTQ history is American history, and all of our students deserve to know that. This October, we hope you’ll join us in celebrating LGBTQ History Month. Here are a few of our favorite resources for learning and teaching about the contributions of LGBTQ people, including lessons, posters, articles and our podcast, Queer America, devoted exclusively to recovering this understudied history.
Celebrate Disability Pride Month by supporting and advocating for students with disabilities. These resources include real-life examples to model accessible learning environments for all students. Center the perspectives of people with disabilities to build students' understanding of the Americans with Disabilities Act. You can also print and display this beautiful poster with a quote by educator, activist and poet Kay Ulanday Barrett.
Racial oppression plays a significant part in American history, and it’s critical our students learn about it. But this February, we're encouraging educators to reflect on their own practice and ensure that the Black history they’re teaching—this month and year-round—isn’t limited to narratives of trauma. To support that learning, this week we’ll be sharing some of our favorite resources for celebrating the diversity of Black history, identity and experience.