3 class periods of 70 minutes each
In this lesson students will be introduced to some of the experiences of African-Americans in Utah. This discussion includes issues related to: employment, culture, religion, prejudice, WWII, and the Civil Rights Movement. This lesson is intended to be a follow-up to a lesson about the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Teachers should have knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States as well as background on the impact the Movement had in Utah. Teachers should be familiar with the tensions that existed during this time period and how the social, political, cultural, and economic landscape of the nation (and Utah) was effected.
Prior to teaching this lesson, teachers should spend a week to two weeks on the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. This material should include the history of racial prejudice and discrimination against African Americans. Students should also be familiar with the main events of the movement itself, including: school de/segregation, bus de/segregation, Freedom Rides, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the March on Washington.
Day One
Activity One
As a class, watch approximately 35-40 minutes of the video Utah's African American Voices, as a way to introduce students to the experiences of African Americans in Utah.
As the students watch the film they will answer the questions on the "Video Assignment."
When the first portion of the video is complete and students have finished the assignment, grade the worksheet as a class (have students trade papers so that each student has another student's paper). Discuss the answers to the worksheet as they are being graded. Teachers should grade the final question since there are a variety of possible answers.
Activity Two
Read the story Little Black Sambo to the students. Discuss how this book came to be written, and how this version of the book can be perceived as racist. (Download a free copy of the book from the link at the bottom of this lesson plan.)
Information about the book can be found on Wikipedia.
As a class, discuss student's perceptions of the book and how they believe it represents African Americans. You might want to start by only showing the class the cover of the book, and asking them what they think the book is about.
Day Two
Either as a class or individually, read the six excerpts from Missing Stories.
Have an overhead prepared with the following questions:
After students turn in their assignments, discuss possible answers with the class.
Day Three
Activity One
As a class, read the packet of material on former Utah State Senator Terry Lee Williams.
This reading covers his experiences as the first black senator in Utah, and the effort he put into getting the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday passed in Utah.
Assignment
Write this question on the board:
Activity Two
Finish watching Utah's African American Voices (this portion of the film should take 15-20 minutes).
On an overhead write the following questions:
After students complete and turn in their assignment, discuss some of their answers as a class.
Then briefly discuss these questions:
Kelen, L.G, & Stone, E.H. (2000). Missing Stories: An Oral History of Ethnic Minority Groups in Utah. Utah State University Press. Logan, UT.
Bannerman, H. (1923). The Story of Little Black Sambo. Harper Collins.
Utah's African American Voices (video) KUED Public Television.