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The African American Story

The African American Story

The African American Story

In this dynamic 8-part lesson, students will learn history and elements of culture through an African American view. They will learn through a relatively new teaching concept, Inquiry Design Model (IDM), being used to teach Black History in Kentucky. It begins by establishing a principal theme, followed by a supporting question, utilizing a formative performance task or activity, and finally sources. After each general story, students will be given three sources with links about the lesson. They will include poems, videos, and other forms of information. Finally, students will do the Performance Task or activity. They may need a separate sheet of paper or materials like paper, scissors and crayons. This course is about culture and expression. Students will learn about what it was like for African and will be able to express themselves through the activities. As African American history and cultural aspects of America move to the forefront, we believe it is important to blend it with traditional history. The following lessons shape the African American experience through the various stages of American history. Read, listen, watch, learn, express and enjoy!

Early Colonial Life: 1619-1764

Principal Theme: African American life at the beginning of the Colonial era. Supporting Question: What was life like for Black people? Was it only slavery? General Story: Europeans arrived in what is the as early as 1526- 1565. Jamestown, Virginia was settled in 1607, with the first 20 slaves () in 1619. They had their rights taken away. They were skilled workers in rice planting and the use of iron metal. African Americans had their own celebrations, like Pinkster. Historians believe it was brought to from Europe or West . It is taken from a Christian celebration called . African Americans still celebrate it today with the largest Pinkster celebration is in Chicago, Illinois. Poems were also written by Jupiter Hamon and Phyllis Wheatley. Source 1: Click THIS LINK to view a picture of Pinkster. What do you see? Explain the picture. ______Source 2: Read information about Phyllis Wheatley at THIS LINK. What are the most interesting things about her? ______

Source 3: Watch the video about quilting at THIS LINK. How proud would you be after making a quilt like these? ______Performance Task: Write a short poem about how important it is for people to have rights. ______

The War for Independence: 1765-1789

Principal Theme: The fight to gain independence from British rule. Supporting Question: The 13 original colonies were unhappy with taxes (extra money charged for things like stamps and tea). How were African Americans involved? General Story: Crispus Attucks was famous for being the first person to die in the war for American freedom. He was African American. There were other famous and wealthy people like James Forten, a sail maker for ships. There were several explorers that helped discover parts of America, including Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable, who settled the city of Chicago, Illinois, in 1779.

Source 1:

Look at the picture of Tom Molineux in THIS LINK. His father Zachary Molineaux fought in the War for Independence and was one of the first boxers. What does this say about him?

______

Source 2: Read the information at THIS LINK. Who is the most interesting person? Why? ______Source 3: Watch the video at THIS LINK. How did help fight slavery? ______Performance Task: Why do you think African Americans fought in the war, even though they were in slavery? ______

Building Up America 1790-1830

Principal Theme: African Americans after the War of Independence Supporting Question: What was happening after America became an official country? As more states were added, slavery still existed. Did life change for Black people? General Story: Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) represented one of the few Black people during the Revolutionary era. He was a self-taught mathematician, scientist, surveyor, and author. He also wrote a letter to President Thomas Jefferson about the treatment of African Americans. There were famous chefs that worked at the , including George Washington’s cook, Hercules Posey. Augustus Jackson is called the ‘Father of Ice Cream.’ He didn’t invent it, but he made it the way we eat it today. It all started back 200 years ago, in the 1820s, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The African Methodist Episcopal Church was started. It was an important place for fighting slavery. Source 1: Read the information found THIS LINK. What is most interesting about Benjamin Banneker? ______Source 2: Watch the video about ice cream at THIS LINK. Why might it have been hard to make ice cream 200 years ago? ______

______Source 3: Look at the at THIS LINK. What is happening? What are the people doing? ______Performance Task: Write a short song or rap about being the first kid to try ice cream. ______

The Fight to End Slavery: 1830-1865

Principal Theme: The fight to end slavery and the Civil War Supporting Question: What changes took place during the fight for freedom? General Story: In 1830, David Walker published David Walker’s Appeal, a little book about the importance of ending slavery in America. He helped start the abolitionist movement. became one of the leading Black people, starting a newspaper to spread information about slavery. He wrote one of the most popular slave narratives, or his story about being in slavery. The Civil War included Black soldiers on both sides, and even Army nurses like Susan King Taylor. The , secret routes of freedom from the South to the northern parts of America, was set up by many conductors or helpers. There were also Black cowboys like Nate Love. Source 1: Look at the picture of the Underground Railroad at THIS LINK. What do you see? ______Source 2: Read information about Frederick Douglas at THIS LINK. What is the most interesting things about him? ______

Source 3: Watch the video about Lewis Latimer who helped invent the light bulb at THIS LINK. How important was his invention? ______Performance Task: Make a collage, a collection of pictures, about what you’ve learned so far. Be creative—you can draw these pictures, cut pictures from magazines, or even print pictures from the Internet.

After the Civil War: 1865-1915

Principal Theme:

African American life after the Civil War and freedom Supporting Question:

Where did African Americans live after the Civil War and slavery? General Story:

Booker T. Washington (1859-1915) was a great leader for Black people in the years after Frederick Douglass died. He was an educator and helped build up Tuskegee University in Alabama. He traveled around the country encouraging Black people to open up schools and businesses. Several wealthy towns and communities grew under his guidance. One was in the Greenwood District, or Little Africa, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Another was an area in Durham, North Carolina called Black Wall Street. There were banks, schools, churches, restaurants and many others businesses.

The Cake Walk was a dance that came from the years during slavery. One famous musician was Scott Joplin, who made a style of dance music called Ragtime. This dance style became very popular.

Paul Lawrence Dunbar was a famous poet.

There was also a bicycle racer named Major Taylor. He was one of the highest paid and most famous athletes in the world! Source 1: Read the information about Booker T. Washington at THIS LINK. What is the most interesting fact about his life? ______Source 2:

Listen to the song by Scott Joplin at THIS LINK. What do you think? How does it make you feel? ______

______Source 3:

At THIS LINK, look at this 1893 painting, Banjo Lesson, by Henry Owasso Tanner. What word comes to mind when you look at the painting? How does it make you feel? ______Performance Task: Write a short story about the Banjo Lesson painting. What is happening in the painting? Create a story surrounding the painting. How does it end? ______

The Great Migration 1916-1970

Principal Theme:

African American life during the migration from north to south. Supporting Question:

Where did African Americans go during the Great Migration? General Story:

After the death of Booker T. Washington and onset of , major changes happened in the South. Many people, especially Black citizens began to make their way out of the land of slavery to cities up north. Between 1916 and 1970, millions of families took trains, cars and even walked to new cities in hope of good jobs and to get away from laws that held them back. Some of the biggest cities that attracted African Americans were Chicago, New York, Detroit, and Los Angeles. Many of these places had people that started businesses like banks, insurance companies, hair care supplies, barber shops, and hair salons.

Jazz was the music that became popular during the time, as did the radios.

Baseball was the most popular sport in America during that time. Because Major League Baseball wouldn’t allow Blacks to play, they formed their own leagues, the Leagues.

The , beginning in 1929, was hard for everyone. It forced people to live simply and stick together, even as they traveled to new cities. Source 1:

Read the information about The Great Migration at THIS LINK. What would it be like to leave your cousins and close friends and move far away? ______

Source 2:

Listen to the story, The Great Migration, at THIS LINK. What is your favorite picture in the book? Why? ______Source 3:

At THIS LINK, look at this 1941 painting, The Great Migration by Jacob Lawrence. What do you think is in the suitcases? What would be important to take on a moving trip with just one suitcase? ______Performance Task: Design and write a postcard, a small artistic letter, that you would send back home to family after moving during the Great Migration. Which of the cities above would you choose? Imagine what life would be like. Where would you work, live and do for fun? On one side of the postcard, draw a picture. One the other side, write a letter to a friend explaining your trip and new home. Use your own paper or the next page as a template.

The 1947-1968

Principal Theme: African American life during the 1950s and 1960s Supporting Question: What was happening during the Civil Rights Movement? General Story: Many Black people moved north and out of the South to get away from racism, treating people wrong because of their skin color or where they are from. Still, even after moving away from the South, there were hard times and laws that were unfair. The Civil Rights Movement was a plan to correct that. Church and community leaders began to march and protest the treatment across the country. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most famous leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1947, left the Negro Leagues to play Major League Baseball. Later in 1954, went to jail for sitting in the front of a city bus. The law said she had to sit in the back because of her skin color. During this time, Motown, a nickname for the city of Detroit, made a lot of music hits. The Supremes were a popular group and had a lot of fans wherever they went. The 1950s and 1960s brought changes, as different laws were challenged. Television shows and movies became more popular with legends like Sammy Davis, Jr. and others bringing entertainment to America. Source 1: Read the information about The Civil Rights Movement at THIS LINK. What do you think would have happened if protestors quit? ______

Source 2: Look at the video of Sammy Davis, Jr. tap dancing at THIS LINK. Have you ever tried to tap dance before? Do you think you would be good at it? What would be the hardest part of tap dancing? ______Source 3: Look at the pictures at THIS LINK. Do you think these kinds of pictures were common, or seen all the time, then? Do you think it would be easy or hard to fight to help people respect each other? ______Performance Task: Pick a place that you know has been around since at least the mid-1900s. A school, church, restaurant or business. Try to find a picture of it from the 1950s or 1960s. What was it like then? Were all people able to visit freely? Has it changed? Why is change important? Write a short story about a place that changed. ______

Today: 1968-Present

Principal Theme:

African Americans after the Civil Rights Movement Supporting Question:

What is life like now for African Americans? General Story:

In 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed. There were protests all over America. Before and after his death, a lot of laws changed that would make it safe and fair for African Americans and all people. Today, you will see a much more diverse America, people of all backgrounds.

Today, African Americans are seen in television, film, and in sports. Many teachers, doctors, lawyers and families are able to live freely. The world is not perfect and work still needs to be done, but the story has improved.

Celebrations like and music are still an important part of life.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), like Howard University, are popular for African Americans.

As American continues to change and grow, so too, will the African American story! Source 1:

Read information about poet Amanda Gorman at THIS LINK. What is the most interesting thing about her? ______Source 2:

Look at the video of Whitney singing the National Anthem in 1991 at THIS LINK. What did you feel or think after reading and learning of the African American Story? ______

______Source 3:

Look at the picture of Michael Jordan and at THIS LINK. Could they have been in those positions 60 years ago? What is important about them? ______Performance Task:

Now that we have completed the African American Story, it’s your turn. Write a short play starring two people in the lesson. It can be anybody. Now add yourself. What role would you play? The setting can be any place and any time. Maybe you are in the Civil Rights Movement or the Great Migration. It is your story. Enjoy taking your place in history! ______

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