S1/E9 The Modern Black Freedom Movement with Clarence Lang

Send us Fan MailDr. Clarence Lang sits down with Eric and Rob to discuss how teachers can present a more complex and nuanced story of the Black freedom movement in modern U.S. history.   Clarence is the Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts and a professor of African American Studies at Penn State.  His book, Grassroots at the Gateway:  Class Politics & Black Freedom Struggle in St. Louis, 1936-75, uses the local context of St. Louis to focus on the important role played by the Black working class, a group often not centered in civil rights narratives.  He identifies three important concepts that teachers should consider when they design their lessons on the topic.  First, he urges teachers to explore who participated in the movement, giving particular attention to working class people whose activism is often obscured by a focus on clergy leaders and other middle-class individuals.  To find stories of regular people involved in the movement, he encourages teachers to have their students examine the local context either by interviewing relatives or exploring archives and old newspapers.  Second, students should learn that the movement was successful and had accomplishments beyond the important gains in civil and voting rights. Finally, teachers should encourage their students to discuss what work remains to be done to build on those accomplishments, and that they have the capacity to make those changes.   Lesson Plans and resources:The Putting the Movement Back in the Movement lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4rz9L9n The Albany Movement lesson can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/44LlHejCreditsOpening theme music, “Bossa Bossa,” created by Clare Howard www.clarehoward.com  Music supported by the National Council for History Education www.ncheteach.orgTransition theme music, “The Clock is Ticking,” created by Emily Hahn.Logo artwork created by Jessica Goldman.Shit I Have to Teach in 20 Minutes is produced by Eric Hahn and Rob Good.  Audio and video editing by Sebastian Rosales.Email us at [email protected]: https://www.youtube.com/@historyintwentyInstagram:historyintwenty