Students are turning to teachers to help them make sense of this reality. Textbooks and the traditional curriculum are of no help as they hide the long history of white supremacy and the Black Freedom Struggle.
The Teaching for Black Lives campaign provides teachers with support, resources, and encouragement to teach young people honestly about systemic racism and how to organize for justice.
The Teaching for Black Lives campaign of the Zinn Education Project (coordinated by Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change) supports teachers with free lessons for teaching about racism and anti-racist struggles, teacher study groups, online classes for teachers, a #TeachTruth campaign, and more.
Teacher Study Groups
The Zinn Education Project supports at least 100 Teaching for Black Lives study groups each school year. This is a free professional learning opportunity. Each group receives:
- Teaching for Black Lives book for each participant (up to 20), study questions, and a meeting facilitation guide
- Rethinking Schools magazine subscription for each participant (up to 20)
- Introductory workshop featuring one or more editors of Teaching for Black Lives
- Access to several invitation-only webinars and workshops (panel discussions on current events, curriculum workshops, campaign planning)
- Closing event featuring one or more special guests
- Access to a network of other study groups and social justice educators across the United States
- Dedicated administrative support for study group coordinators
Teaching the Black Freedom Struggle Online Classes and Recordings
The Zinn Education Project offers free monthly Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online classes. Teachers learn directly from leading people’s historians and also meet peers from across the country. Professional development certificates and ASL interpretation are provided. The classes are available as audio recordings.
Lessons on the Black Freedom Struggle
The Zinn Education Project offers dozens of lessons on the history of the Black Freedom Struggle — from resistance to enslavement to redlining to the ongoing fight for voting rights and reparations. Find highlighted collections of lessons at Teach Truth Syllabus, Teach the Roots of the 2020 Rebellion, People’s History Lessons for Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, and Teaching with the New York Times 1619 Project.
Related Efforts
Throughout the year, we collaborate with and promote the Black Lives Matter at School Year of Purpose and Week of Action.
Add Your Support
The campaign is made possible through the generous support of Doug and Tara Baldwin, the Carroll Family Fund, Tricia Davis and Ben Haggerty (aka Macklemore), Zach Quillen, the Seahawks Players Equality & Justice for All Action Fund, the Players Coalition, and you! Help us reach more schools with these resources and establish more teacher study groups. Donate today and indicate that your contribution is for the Teaching for Black Lives campaign.
