Black Women Radicals

Confront the Red Scare

Lessons for Today’s McCarthyism

People’s history teachers are being attacked with Red Scare tactics — their names published on lists by right-wing publications, threats of firing, and physical intimidation.

That is why we invited historian Dayo Gore to share stories from history about how to fight back. Join us on Monday, January 23, to learn about Black women radicals active in the revolutionary struggle during the Red Scare. This session is part of our Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

All sessions are free. ASL interpretation and PD certificates are provided.

Learn More and RSVP

Check out this related lesson for middle and high school classrooms.

Subversives:

Stories from the Red Scare

Albuquerque high school English teacher Nick DePascal used Subversives:

Stories from the Red Scare:

Students were shocked by the many and various ways people from all jobs and walks of life were hounded and persecuted by their own government under the guise of national security.

What I love about this lesson and all of the Zinn Ed Project’s teaching resources are that they are expertly researched and detailed, and they show both the indignities real people suffered, while still centering the way these same people fought back. In this way, students learn the shocking truths of our history, while still seeing where the spaces for action and revolt can exist in our present moment. They can see how they themselves can act in the face of injustice.

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Historians Say

More Time and Resources to

Teach Reconstruction

If students don’t understand Reconstruction, they don’t understand U.S. history, politics, or form of government, nor do they understand the history of racism and racial oppression in the country. I signed this open letter because no period in U.S. history is more important for the nation’s story nor more relevant to the students’ experiences today. — Gregory P. Downs, professor at the University of California at Davis

Gregory Downs is one of the close to 250 scholars of U.S. history who signed an open letter urging school districts to devote more time and resources to teaching the Reconstruction era in schools.

About the Open Letter

Open Letter Signers

NCSS 2023 in Nashville

Apply to Present a People’s History Lesson

We had a great time at NCSS 2022 in Philadelphia and now we hope to see you in Nashville. Let’s fill the conference with people's history workshops. Applications are open through Feb. 17.

Learn More

Mark Your Calendars: Educator Events

Historians on Call

Defend Teaching People’s History

Historians for Peace and Democracy (H-PAD) is mobilizing its members “to oppose the right-wing’s lies and distortions about what is and what is not being taught in schools and to stand up for educational freedom.”

Toward that end, they have created a network called Historians on Call. We at the Zinn Education Project are collaborating with them to identify when and where the historians can support local efforts.

To date, more than 60 historians have signed up. Their first action was to assist with an analysis and a public critique of Virginia Gov. Youngkin’s proposed social studies standards.

If you work in a district that can use the voice or expertise of a historian to defend the teaching of people’s history, let us know. If you are a professional historian, we invite you to join Historians on Call.

Also, we ask everyone to respond to the efforts by the Virginia governor to threaten history lessons.

Historians on Call

New Rosa Parks Documentary

Streaming License for Teachers

The Zinn Education Project, in collaboration with Soledad O'Brien Productions, is offering licenses for teachers and teacher educators to stream the documentary The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks through March 31, 2023.

This offer is for teachers who received copies of the young readers edition of the book, Teaching for Black Lives study group members, teachers who attend the Teach the Black Freedom Struggle classes, and educators using Zinn Education Project people’s history lessons.