Developed By: David Canton and Paquita Jarman-Smith 

This unit examines African American history from the political, economic, and cultural impact of Black Power to Black Lives Matter. During this era, African Americans used the vote to demand reform, created organizations such as the Black Panther Party to address police brutality, and created independent social programs. Since 1965, African Americans have made major progress, such as an increase of college graduates and decrease in poverty rate; however, institutional racism continues to undermine the progress of African Americans and African and Black Caribbean immigrants as well as an expanding Black middle class. In this unit, students will:

● Examine how the Black community is shaped by a variety of identities, communities, and perspectives.

● Analyze historical, contemporary, and emerging means of changing societies, promoting the common good, and protecting rights.

● Reimagine new possibilities and more just futures for our country and our world drawn from the legacy of African American, Black experiences, intellectual thought, and culture.

Compelling Questions: What are the greatest issues facing Blacks and African Americans in the U.S. today? What does radically reimagining new possibilities and more just futures look and sound like now?