Anchor Text: Declaration of Independence
Written in July of 1776, the Declaration of Independence is Thomas Jefferson’s famous breakup letter to Great Britain. In it, he outlines the philosophy behind the colonists decision to sever their ties with Britain, as well as the specific complaints of the colonists against King George III. This text is taught at both 11th and 12th grade, and always teacher led, as this text is very difficult! (Lexile 1700-1800!)
Audience: 11th grade US History students at a Title I funded high school in South Sacramento. A majority of students are below grade level, with close to 50% redesignated English fluent (former English Language Learners).
Purpose:
Use the theme of protest to explicate the five founding American Ideals: Liberty, Equality, Opportunity, Democracy and Rights.
Purpose:
Use the theme of protest to explicate the five founding American Ideals: Liberty, Equality, Opportunity, Democracy and Rights.
Supporting Texts:
Plessy vs Ferguson, dissenting opinion by John Marshall Harlan
The 1896 Supreme Court case that upholds the doctrine of “Separate but Equal”, thus ushering in decades of Jim Crow laws in the American South. The intent here is to highlight the dissenting opinion, and to examine the arguments made at the time, using this to engage the students in a discussion about how this argument can be used later to overturn Plessy in Brown vs The Topeka Board of Education. Also to discuss, is a dissenting opinion a type of protest?
John Lewis' 1963 speech at the March on Washington
Annotation: John Lewis’ 1963 speech at the March on Washington, where he speaks about civil rights injustices and objections to the Civil Rights laws proposed by the Kennedy administration. He also urges action against injustice. This text elaborates on the ideals presented in the Declaration of Independence, challenging ideas of rights, equality, opportunity. It also provides a related, but different perspective than the famous “I Have A Dream” speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. It is also an interesting discussion, as this is not his original speech, he rewrites it moments earlier at the urging of famous activist A. Philip Randolph, as many believed his original was too critical of the Kennedy administration. |
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Colin Kaepernick protest/explanation of his actions. ESPN video from August 2016 at the beginning of the Colin Kaepernick protest controversy. The story includes statements by Kaepernick explaining his actions as protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
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New York Times Opinion/Editorial on the Kaepernick kneeling controversy urging athletes to consider other means of protesting police brutality that may be more effective and win more allies.
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Denied A Stage, She Sang For A NationThis NPR story is intended to be used with the You Tube video at right, as it provides context for the concert. Marian Anderson's famous concert in front of the Lincoln Memorial after she was not permitted to sing at Constitution Hall as it was owned by the Daughters of the Revolution who had a “White-Only” performers clause in all of their contracts. Eleanor Roosevelt (then a member of the DAR, who resigned due to this incident) arranged for her to sing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, in front of a crowd of 75,000, as well as broadcast on the radio. She opens with “My Country tis of Thee”.
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Freedom Riders interactive timelineInteractive timeline and map showing experiences of the Freedom Riders as they journeyed through the South, attempting to desegregate interstate bus lines and waiting rooms, the group included both African-American and white college students, many from Northern States.
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