The Moment Archive

The Fourth of July is a quintessentially American holiday, but the celebrated right to liberty has never applied to every American. These resources can help you consider how July 4th fits into the complex relationship between the United States and its citizens of color and how you can bring this history and an important message to your diverse classrooms: There is no template for Americanness, and there never should have been.

June 28th marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, when a diverse group of LGBTQ people fought back against a police raid. These resources can help you understand where this event fits on the timeline of LGBTQ history, why it matters and how you can bring the story to your classroom any time of year.

With conditions at detention centers and plans for more ICE raids in the news, it’s easy to feel hopeless. But, as educators, you have more power than you may realize. These resources outline practical steps you can take today to interrupt the school-to-deportation pipeline and support undocumented students and their families.

Released video footage of police officers drawing guns on a young black family in Phoenix illustrates the threat of police violence and bias that black Americans live with—regardless of age. These resources can help you affirm that black lives matter, teach the roots of this violence and counter silence on this issue with productive conversations.

Juneteenth—celebrated across the country on June 19—marks an important milestone in the struggle for freedom. But the lessons of this holiday can and should be taught year-round. Use these resources to learn more about Juneteenth, get ideas for sharing it with students and contextualize it within American history.