Books, films, posters, and websites.
Select from the resource types on the right. You can narrow your search by selecting a reading level.
Resources can also be selected by theme or time period.
Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement
Book – Non-fiction. By Vincent Harding. 2010 (2nd Edition). 240 pages.
A call to educators, clergy, and community activists to remember and keep alive the story of the black-led freedom movement.
Freedom’s Unfinished Revolution: An Inquiry Into the Civil War and Reconstruction
Teaching Guide. By ASHP with foreword by Eric Foner. 1996. 302 pages.
Primary documents, essays and questions to teach the untold story of Reconstruction.
African American, Democracy & Citizenship, Racism & Racial Identity, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
There Comes a Time: The Struggle for Civil Rights
Book – Non-fiction. By Milton Meltzer. 2002. 208 pages.
History of the struggle for civil rights throughout U.S. history, for middle school readers.
The Most Dangerous Man in America Teaching Guide
Teaching Activities. Zinn Education Project. 2010. 100 pages.
Eight lessons for use with the documentary film about Daniel Ellsberg, the Pentagon Papers, the Vietnam War, and whistleblowing.
Media, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies
Hands On the Freedom Plow: Personal Accounts by Women in SNCC
Book – Non-fiction. Edited by Faith S. Holsaert, Martha Prescod Norman Noonan, Judy Richardson, Betty Garman Robinson, Jean Smith Young, and Dorothy M. Zellner. 2010. 632 pages.
An unprecedented women’s history of the Civil Rights Movement, from sit-ins to Black Power.
Freedom Riders
Film. Written, produced, and directed by Stanley Nelson. 2011. 120 minutes.
A first hand look at the 1961 rides from the Freedom Riders themselves and others who were there.
Civil Rights Movements, Organizing, Racism & Racial Identity
The Streets are Free
Book – Fiction. By Karusa. Illustrated by Monica Doppert. 1985 (reissued 2008). 48 pages.
A group of children organize to convince the mayor that they need a playground and when they do not get it they organize the neighbors to help them build one.
The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World
Book – Non-fiction. By John Carlos and Dave Zirin. Foreword by Cornel West. 2011. 220 pages.
Written for grades 7+, this biography of John Carlos recounts his childhood, his legendary act of courage at the ’68 Olympics, and the backlash.
African American, Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship, Racism & Racial Identity, Sports
Occupy Wall Street – Song by David Rovics
Song. By David Rovics. 2011.
A ballad of the Occupy Movement with a high energy beat.
Who Freed the Slaves?
Student Handout in PDF. By Bill Bigelow. 2 pages.
This timeline can be used as a resource for lessons on the Civil War, President Lincoln, the 54th Regiment, and the end of slavery.
African American, Racism & Racial Identity, Slavery, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
Sacred Leaf
Book – Fiction. By Deborah Ellis. 2009. 206 pages.
A story based in Bolivia about a group of peasants who organize against the military.
GLSEN – Gay, Lesbian and Straight Eduction Network
Website. Provides news on LGBT issues for teachers and students, as well as K-12 lesson plans, curricular tools and teacher training programs.
Students on Strike: Jim Crow, Civil Rights, Brown, and Me
Book – Non-fiction. By John A. Stokes with Lois Wolfe. 2007. 128 pages.
First person description of the student led movement to desegregate schools in Prince Edward County.
Bread and Roses, Too
Book – Fiction. By Katherine Paterson. 2006. 275 pages.
Moving young adult historical-fiction novel based on a major strike in Lawrence, Mass. in 1912.
We Shall Remain
Film and website. 2009. 450 minutes.
Three hundred years of Native American history.
Civil Rights Movements, Laws & Citizen Rights, Native American, Racism & Racial Identity
Welcome to the Terrordome: The Pain, Politics, and Promise of Sports
Book – Non-fiction. By Dave Zirin. Foreword by Chuck D. 2007. 258 pages.
Essays on sports and politics.
Howard Zinn on History
Book – Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn. Introduction by Staughton Lynd. 2011. 192 pages.
Zinn explores the powerful question, “Have we reached a point in history where we are ready to embrace a new way of living in the world, expanding not our military power, but our humanity?”
Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship, Education, Racism & Racial Identity, Social Class
Democracy Now!
Website. Radio program hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.
Daily news radio program with voices rarely heard in corporate media.
Haymarket: A Novel
Book – Fiction. By Martin Duberman. 2005. 330 pages.
Historical novel for high school and adults on the Haymarket struggle.
Why Students Should Study History: An Interview with Howard Zinn
Background Reading for Teachers PDF. By Howard Zinn. 1994.
Interview conducted by Barbara Miner on a number of questions about the study of history.
List of Resources
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Zinn Education Project
Saturday, February 4th at 7:12 Today is the birthday of Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (Feb. 4, 1913 – Oct. 24, 2005). Below is a key article by Herbert Kohl from Rethinking Schools that challenges the myths prevalent in children's books and textbooks about Rosa Parks. Here is a link to more resources about Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott: http://zinnedproject.org/posts/tag/rosaparks
The Politics of Children’s Literature: What’s Wrong with the Rosa Parks Myth
zinnedproject.org
Aritcle. By Herbert Kohl. 6 pages. A critical analysis that challenges the myths in children’s books about Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Zinn Education Project
Saturday, February 4th at 0:40 via ColorLines Magazine People have taken to Twitter to talk about the histories they wish they'd learned about in high school. Use: #WishiLearnedinHS
Pay Attention! Ethnic Studies #WishiLearnedinHS Curriculum Hits Twitter - COLORLINES
colorlines.com
Educational policies start trending on Twitter.
Zinn Education Project
Friday, February 3rd at 7:25 On this day in 1944, U.S. forces invaded and took control of the Marshall Islands. Who was living there? What is the status of the islands today? The Insular Empire: America in the Marianas is a powerful film on the U.S. colonies in the western Pacific.
Suggestion: ask your students - "Does the U.S. have colonies?" Let us know how they respond.
The Insular Empire: America in the Mariana Islands
zinnedproject.org
The Insular Empire is a one-hour PBS documentary about America’s colonies in the western Pacific. Six thousand miles west of California, the Mariana Islands include the U.S. Territory of Guam and the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (or CNMI). Although most Americans don’t believe t...
