Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a native Virginian and the son of former slaves, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and the first celebration of Negro History Week.  Since that time, America and Virginia observe Black History Month by honoring the achievements and contributions made by African Americans to the economic, cultural, and political development of America.

Suggested Activities for students in grade  8-12

Describe how the African American struggle for equality became a mass movement. Include the following:

• Opposition to Plessy v. Ferguson — “Separate but equal"
• Brown v. Board of Education, desegregation of schools
• Martin Luther King, Jr. — Passive resistance against segregated facilities; “I have a dream…” speech
• Rosa Parks — Montgomery bus boycott
• Organized protests, Freedom Riders, sit-ins, marches
• Expansion of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Describe the following legislation resulting from the Civil Right Movement that ensured constitutional rights to all citizens regardless of race:

• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Voting Rights Act of 1965

Provide a display of Black History in every WJCC school.

Suggested Activities for Students in Grades 2-7

1. Allow students to observe poster pictures of African Americans who contributed to the struggle for equality such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and Mrs. Rosa Parks. Discuss the characteristics of these individuals.  Provide time for small group discussions on how this history impacts their lives today. 
2. Teachers may also show video clips that are age appropriate.  Scholastic.com/dreamincolor. 
   1. Provide a Black History Exhibit in all WJCC schools.

Resources

 “Ordinary People, Ordinary Places: The Civil Rights Movement.” EDSITEment, The National Endowment of the Humanities. <http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=353>. This Web site offers a lesson plan on the Civil Rights Movement.

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow. Public Broadcasting Service. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/index.html>. This site offers much information about the Jim Crow era, including lessons plans and student activities.

Smith, Stephen, Kate Ellis, and Sasha Aslanian. Remembering Jim Crow. <http://www.americanradioworks.org/features/remembering/index.html>. This site offers information about and excerpts from the documentary Remembering Jim Crow.

“Teaching with Documents Lesson Plan: Documents Related to Brown v. Board of Education” U.S. National Archives and Records Administration — Digital Classroom. <http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/brown-v-board/>. This site offers a lesson plan based on the landmark Supreme Court civil rights case.

Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning. United States History: 1877 to the Present. Test Blueprint. Virginia Department of Education, 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/2002Blueprint4USII.pdf>. This site provides assessment information for the course in United States History: 1877 to the Present.

We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement. <http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/index.htm>. This site gives a travel itinerary of national historic places related to the Civil Rights Movement.