The Moment Archive

Freedom Summer not only marked the mobilization of civil rights organizers in Mississippi during the 1960s, but it also yielded the creation of Freedom Schools and historic legislation. The fight for civil rights continues today, from voting rights to efforts to keep educators from teaching truthfully about our country’s full history. Use these resources next school year to help students contextualize Freedom Summer and how it connects to movements today.

June 15 marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Plyler v. Doe. The court ruled in 1982 that schools could not deny students a public education based on their citizenship status. Use these resources, including SPLC’s new guide and pamphlets for advocating for immigrant students and emerging English speakers, to ensure your school is doing right by students and families.

June 12 is the anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, which ended the criminalization of interracial marriage. Use this primary source text written by Mildred Loving, as well as our recommendations to incorporate the film The Loving Story in the classroom, to help students understand the gravity of this historic case. And look for the spotlight on The Loving Project in the podcast feature.

As we celebrate Pride by honoring queer trailblazers, we want to especially uplift Black and Brown trans women and gender nonconforming people of color who led liberation movements nationwide. Out of the Stonewall Uprising came the very celebration of Pride we know today—and we have activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy to thank. Use these resources to center queer Black and Brown activists who fought back against police brutality and oppression while also teaching about the continued fight for justice.

On May 31, 1921, white supremacist terrorists attacked the Greenwood community in Oklahoma, killing up to 300 Black residents and burning over 1,000 homes. We don’t know the exact number: For too long, the history of this and other acts of racist terror across the United States were intentionally kept quiet. We urge you to teach the truth about Tulsa and other hard histories. These resources can help.