In About Love, filmmaker Archana Phadke offers a revealing portrait of the banal, sometimes disturbing, ever enduring bonds of family. Three generations of the Phadke family live together in downtown Mumbai. Their lives, recorded over the span of three years (2015-2017), reveal the contradictions of a modern, well-educated family making a life within India’s traditional Hindu and post-colonial nationalist structures that empower men while marginalizing women.

As the family copes with caring for ailing elders and preparing for a son’s wedding, viewers are invited to think about the purposes of marriage, the impact of losing independence (either through marriage or infirmity), and what it means to be heard.

In this captivating documentary filmed in a single tiny room, viewers step inside an underground hair salon with its charismatic proprietor, a Cameroonian immigrant named Sabine. Here, she and her employees style extensions and glue on lashes while watching soaps, dishing romantic advice, sharing rumors about government programs to legalize migrants, and talking about life back home in Cameroon.

Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. Americanah. Anchor, 2013.
Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion—for each other and for their homeland. The novel begins in a flashback when Ifemelu is having her hair braided—the imbued symbolism of hair is a key element in the book. And as a personal expression of identity it’s something every reader, and certainly every woman, can relate to personally.

Bulawayo, NoViolet. We Need New Names. Back Bay Books, 2014.
Darling is only ten years old, and yet she must navigate a fragile and violent world. In Zimbabwe, Darling and her friends steal guavas, try to get the baby out of young Chipo’s belly, and grasp at memories of Before. Before their homes were destroyed by paramilitary policemen, before the school closed, before the fathers left for dangerous jobs abroad. But Darling has a chance to escape: she has an aunt in America. She travels to this new land in search of America’s famous abundance only to find that her options as an immigrant are perilously few.

Busby, Margaret (Editor). New Daughters of Africa: An international anthology of writing by women of African descent.Amistad Press, 2019.
This follow-up to the original landmark anthology brings together fresh and vibrant voices that have emerged from across the globe in the past two decades, from Antigua to Zimbabwe and Angola to the United States. Key figures, including Margo Jefferson, Nawal El Saadawi, Edwidge Danticat, and Zadie Smith, join popular contemporaries such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Imbolo Mbue, Yrsa Daley-Ward, Taiye Selasi, and Chinelo Okparanta in celebrating the heritage that unites them. Each of the pieces in this remarkable collection demonstrates an uplifting sense of sisterhood, honors the strong links that endure from generation to generation, and addresses the common obstacles female writers of color face as they negotiate issues of race, gender, and class and address vital matters of independence, freedom, and oppression.

Gyasi, Yaa. Homegoing. Vintage, 2017.
Ghana, eighteenth century: two half-sisters are born into different villages, each unaware of the other. One will marry an Englishman and lead a life of comfort in the palatial rooms of the Cape Coast Castle. The other will be captured in a raid on her village, imprisoned in the very same castle, and sold into slavery. Homegoing follows the parallel paths of these sisters and their descendants through eight generations: from the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the American Civil War to Jazz Age Harlem. The novel casts light upon slavery’s troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayed—and shows how the memory of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation.Ghana, eighteenth century: two half sisters are born into different villages, each unaware of the other. One will marry an Englishman and lead a life of comfort in the palatial rooms of the Cape Coast Castle. The other will be captured in a raid on her village, imprisoned in the very same castle, and sold into slavery.

Selasi,Taiye. Ghana Must Go by.Penguin, 2014.
This novel takes readers from Accra to Lagos to London to New York, it is at once a portrait of a modern family and an exploration of the importance of where we come from to who we are.
A renowned surgeon and failed husband, Kweku Sai dies suddenly at dawn outside his home in suburban Accra. The news of his death sends a ripple around the world, bringing together the family he abandoned years before. Moving with great elegance through time and place, Ghana Must Go charts their circuitous journey to one another and, along the way, teaches us that the truths we speak can heal the wounds we hide.

Smith, Zadie. Swing Time: A NovelPenguin Books, 2017.
An ambitious, exuberant new novel moving from North West London to West Africa.
Two brown girls dream of being dancers—but only one, Tracey, has talent. The other has ideas: about rhythm and time, about black bodies and black music, what constitutes a tribe, or makes a person truly free. It’s a close but complicated childhood friendship that ends abruptly in their early twenties, never to be revisited, but never quite forgotten, either. The story moves from London to West Africa, where diaspora tourists travel back in time to find their roots, young men risk their lives to escape into a different future, the women dance just like Tracey—the same twists, the same shakes—and the origins of a profound inequality are not a matter of distant history, but a present dance to the music of time.

"She walked on roads, fields, deserts…”
Understanding the Push and Pull of International Migration

Overview

At Jolie Coiffure salon, the charismatic owner Sabine offers much more than the intricate hairstyles advertised in her window displays. Her small shop serves as a community hub where local West African immigrants like herself talk about their experiences, dish romantic advice, reminisce about home, and swap critical information on government policies and actions that impact their precarious lives as immigrants.

Years ago, Sabine left her home in Cameroon when recruited by a Lebanese maid service. As soon as she arrived in Lebanon, her passport was taken and she was trapped in domestic servitude with no rights or freedoms. After two years of abuse, Sabine escaped, travelling mostly on foot through Greece and Syria before seeking asylum in Belgium. She settled in Matonge, the city’s African quarter, where she manages her beauty salon Jolie Coiffure and waits to hear if she will finally be granted asylum or abruptly arrested and deported back to Cameroon.

Filmed entirely inside the tiny salon by director, Rosine Mbakam, Chez Jolie Coiffure captures an intimate look at a year in the lives of Sabine and her community as they navigate legal obstacles and confront personal traumas on their quest for a safe and lasting home in their new country.

In this lesson, students will share and examine their perceptions of and experience with immigration and sometimes vague language of international human migration. Through Sabine’s story and collaborative activities, students will identify “push/pull” factors that that lead individuals and families to leave their countries despite the complex hurdles and personal risks they face. They will then connect the factors that motivated each stage of Sabine’s journey to fundamental human rights as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The lesson will culminate with students identifying current media stories of international migration and collaborate in small groups to develop multimedia presentations integrating their understanding of Push/Pull Factors, international human rights, and evaluating if/how these rights are applicable under U.S. policies.

A Note from Curriculum Creator, Allison Milewski

I have a confession to make: my love of teaching is deeply rooted in my own joy for learning. For the past 20 years, I’ve been incredibly privileged to work and live in both New York City and Southeast Asia where every day has presented an opportunity to learn about my students, my craft, our societies, and my own privileges and blind-spots. I have collaborated with diverse and inspiring communities of educators and students and taught across cultures, institutions, and age groups (from six to 60 -- sometimes in the same classroom!) Although every community, every classroom, and every student I’ve encountered is unique, the common thread that connects me to every person I’ve encountered, is the ability to learn from each other and the desire to expand our knowledge and experience by sharing our stories.

Director Rosine Mbakam’s documentary, Chez Jolie Coiffure, beautifully illustrates the revelatory power of storytelling - and the importance of considering who is telling the story about whom. Through the daily life and intimate stories of Cameroonian stylist, Sabine, Mbakam deftly brings into focus complex issues of mass migration, the global refugee crisis, worker exploitation, gender-based violence, and universal human rights as well as the ability of stories to build community and bear witness.

As an educator, I was especially drawn to the opportunity to introduce students to Sabine, an engaging, moving, and charismatic woman whose experiences demonstrate the human impact of academic concepts such as Push/Pull actors and the language of migration. Even as the lesson shifts to broader discussions of universal human rights and social responsibility, students’ activities and discussions can remain firmly grounded in Sabine’s personal story as a migrant, refugee, asylum seeker, and survivor.

A Note to Teachers

This lesson, and the accompanying film, address a range of challenging issues that may be sensitive for some students. I encourage teachers and facilitators to screen the film clips and review all of the related materials in advance of the lesson. Some (or many) of your students may have personal experience with issues such as immigration law, asylum seekers, migrant and refugee rights, labor exploitation, racism, xenophobia, and gender-based violence. Their perspectives and sensitivities should inform how the lesson is presented. It might also be helpful to connect with a school social worker for resources specific to your school’s guidelines and your students’ needs.

Before the lesson, remind the class that this is a supportive environment and make time to review your classroom’s tools for creating a safe-space, including class agreements. These might include guidelines like “no interrupting,” “listen without judgment,” “use respectful language,” “share to your level of comfort,” “you have the right to pass,” etc. And remind students that when they talk about groups of people, they should be careful to use the word “some,” not “all.”

Visit Teaching Tolerance for excellent resources and strategies for tackling challenging topics in the classroom:

• Teaching Tolerance: Let's Talk! Discussing Race, Racism and Other Difficult Topics with Students:
  https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/publications/lets-talk
• Social Justice Standards | The Teaching Tolerance Anti-bias Framework:
  https://www.tolerance.org/professional-development/social-justice-standards-the-teaching-tolerance-antibias-framework
• Teaching at the Intersections: Honor and teach about your students’ multiple identities:
  https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/summer-2016/teaching-at-the-intersections

Subject Areas:

• Social Studies
• Political Science
• International Relations
• Global History/Global Studies
• Current Events
• Media Studies
• English Language Arts

Grade Levels: [9-12]

Objectives:

Students will

• Examine their perceptions of immigration and immigrants and interrogate implicit biases they may have
• Compare/contrast the different forms of international human migration and define key terms
• Identify “push/pull” factors that lead individuals like Sabine in Chez Jolie Coiffure to migrate to a new country
• Relate the factors that drive international migration to the protections in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Create a multimedia presentation on a current immigration story that illustrates an understanding of migration push/pull factors and Universal Human Rights and assesses if/how the subjects of the story are protected under U.S. immigration, refugee and/or asylum policies

Materials:

• Chez Jolie Coiffure film clips and equipment on which to show them
• Student Handouts
  • Student Handout A: The Push and Pull of Migration
  • Student Handout B: Push/Pull Factors in Chez Jolie
  • Student Handout C: Understanding Sabine’s Story
  • Student Handout D: Migration and Universal Human Rights
• Teacher Handouts
  • Teacher Handout A: Film Summary
  • Teacher Handout B: Key Terms Cut-Outs
  • Teacher Handout C: What are Universal Human Rights?
• White board/markers
• Large chart paper (2 sheets for each group of four students)
• Pens and writing paper
• Tape

Time Needed:

Two 50-minute class periods with homework

View the trailer hereand sign up to receive updates here.

In this captivating documentary filmed in a single tiny room, viewers step inside an underground hair salon with its charismatic proprietor, a Cameroonian immigrant named Sabine. She and her employees style extensions and glue on lashes while watching soaps, dishing romantic advice, sharing rumors about government programs to legalize migrants and talking about life back home in Cameroon.

A political firebrand in her home country, Israeli defense attorney Lea Tsemel is known by her opponents as "the devil's advocate," for her decades-long defense of Palestinians who have been accused of resisting the occupation.

Allen, Lori. The Rise and Fall of Human Rights: Cynicism and Politics in Occuplied Palestine. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2013.
The Rise and Fall of Human Rights provides a groundbreaking ethnographic investigation of the Palestinian human rights world—its NGOs, activists, and "victims," as well as their politics, training, and discourse—since 1979. Though human rights activity began as a means of struggle against the Israeli occupation, in failing to end the Israeli occupation, protect basic human rights, or establish an accountable Palestinian government, the human rights industry has become the object of cynicism for many Palestinians. But far from indicating apathy, such cynicism generates a productive critique of domestic politics and Western interventionism. This book illuminates the successes and failures of Palestinians' varied engagements with human rights in their quest for independence.

Chomsky, Noam, and Ilan Pappé, edited by Frank Barat.On Palestine.Chicago: Haymarket, 2015.
Operation Protective Edge, Israel's most recent assault on Gaza, left thousands of Palestinians dead and cleared the way for another Israeli land grab. The need to stand in solidarity with Palestinians has never been greater. Ilan Pappé and Noam Chomsky, two leading voices in the struggle to liberate Palestine, discuss the road ahead for Palestinians and how the international community can pressure Israel to end its human rights abuses against the people of Palestine. On Palestine is the sequel to their acclaimed book Gaza in Crisis.

Erakat, Noura. Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine. Stanford, CA: Standford University Press, 2020.
Justice for Some offers a new approach to understanding the Palestinian struggle for freedom, told through the power and control of international law. Focusing on key junctures―from the Balfour Declaration in 1917 to present-day wars in Gaza―Noura Erakat shows how the strategic deployment of law has shaped current conditions. Over the past century, the law has done more to advance Israel's interests than the Palestinians'. But, Erakat argues, this outcome was never inevitable. Law is politics, and its meaning and application depend on the political intervention of states and people alike. Within the law, change is possible. International law can serve the cause of freedom when it is mobilized in support of a political movement. Presenting the promise and risk of international law, Justice for Some calls for renewed action and attention to the Question of Palestine.

Hannum, Hurst. Rescuing Human Rights: A Radically Moderate Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
This is a multi-disciplinary book with a primary focus on international law and human rights. It analyzes human rights successes and failures, and argues that the role of human rights in foreign affairs continues to be crucial in the twenty-first century.

Khalidi, Rashid.The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood.Boston: Beacon, 2006.
At a time when a lasting peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis seems virtually unattainable, understanding the roots of their conflict is an essential step in restoring hope to the region. In The Iron Cage, Rashid Khalidi, one of the most respected historians and political observers of the Middle East, homes in on Palestinian politics and history. By drawing on a wealth of experience and scholarship, Khalidi provides a lucid context for the realities on the ground today, a context that has been, until now, notably lacking in our discourse.

Pappé, Ilan.The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.Oxford: OneWorld, 2006.
Renowned Israeli historian, Ilan Pappé's groundbreaking book revisits the formation of the State of Israel. Between 1947 and 1949, over 400 Palestinian villages were deliberately destroyed, civilians were massacred and around a million men, women, and children were expelled from their homes at gunpoint. Denied for almost six decades, had it happened today it could only have been called "ethnic cleansing". Decisively debunking the myth that the Palestinian population left of their own accord in the course of this war, Ilan Pappé offers impressive archival evidence to demonstrate that, from its very inception, a central plank in Israel's founding ideology was the forcible removal of the indigenous population. Indispensable for anyone interested in the current crisis in the Middle East.

Said, Edward.The Question of Palestine.New York: Vintage, 1979.
This original and deeply provocative book was the first to make Palestine the subject of a serious debate–one that remains as critical as ever. With the rigorous scholarship he brought to his influential Orientalism and an exile’s passion (he is Palestinian by birth), Edward W. Said traces the fatal collision between two peoples in the Middle East and its repercussions in the lives of both the occupier and the occupied–as well as in the conscience of the West. He has updated this landmark work to portray the changed status of Palestine and its people in light of such developments as the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the intifada, the Gulf War, and the ongoing MIddle East peace initiative. For anyone interested in this region and its future, The Question of Palestine remains the most useful and authoritative account available.

Sfard, Mikharel. The Wall and the Gate: Israel, Palestine and the Legal Battle for Human Rights. New York: Metropolitan Books, 2017.
In The Wall and the Gate, Michael Sfard chronicles this struggle - a story that has never before been fully told - and in the process engages the core principles of human rights legal ethics. Sfard recounts the unfolding of key cases and issues, ranging from confiscation of land, deportations, the creation of settlements, punitive home demolitions, torture, and targeted killings - all actions considered violations of international law. In the process, he lays bare the reality of the occupation and the lives of the people who must contend with that reality.

Against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, directors Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaiche document the work of Lea Tsemel, a Jewish-Israeli human rights lawyer who has dedicated her life to representing Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli courts. Her defense of Palestinians who resist the occupation — through both violent and non-violent means — has earned her a reputation as “the devil’s advocate” from her opponents, but she believes in the potential of law as a tool to bring about justice. Of the work she says, “I can’t do anything else, I believe in it.”

In this lesson, students will grapple with the concept of “justice,” examining it through the lens of Lea Tsemel and her legal work, as well as from the perspectives of those who work by her side and against her. Students will delve into international law with regard to human rights and will assess Lea Tsemel’s strategy of using the legal system as a lever of social change. Relevant to World History, Global Studies, Civics, World Religions, and Law courses.

A Note from Curriculum Creators, Blueshift Education

Our work at Blueshift Education is to develop curriculum, resources, and relevant tools to deepen understanding on social justice issues in order to empower people, foster empathy, and bring about meaningful and lasting change. The documentary Advocate offers a compelling example and a unique opportunity to engage in this kind of transformational educational work. The film presents the story of one woman who has committed her life to the work of justice, upholding the law, and protecting the human rights of her clients in the face of entrenched and emotional opposition. In the summer of 2020 these critical issues are, quite literally, under a spotlight in the streets of cities across America and around the world. More than ever educators and students need tools to help navigate disagreement, negotiate for change, reach compromise, and respect the viewpoints of others, especially those with whom you disagree. We hope the essential questions, the select film clips, and the thoughtful exercises for Advocate offer an opening for educators and students to reflect on their own beliefs and work towards a more just world for all.

A Note to Teachers

This lesson is not a history lesson on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but it is impossible to divorce the documentary from the cultural, political, and historical context in which it occurs. With this negotiation in mind, it is important when using Advocate in a classroom to be familiar with the terminology if questions arise. We see using Advocate in the classroom within the context of units that cover post-World War II history, post-colonial studies, human rights issues and international human rights law.

The Key Terms and Concepts Document included with this lesson offers brief descriptions of terms and events referred to in the clips, and further teaching resources about the conflict are available in the resources section. As represented in Clip 1, the terms a person uses to refer to aspects of the conflict often reveal their political point of view. The definitions in the document are drawn from the non-partisan Middle East Research and Information Project, a non-governmental organization that reports on Middle East affairs. Because the documentary is spoken in Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles, transcripts of the film clips are included in the lesson.

Keep in mind that Advocate and this lesson shine a light on violence and human rights injustices happening as a result of the Israeli occupation. Students who feel invested in the conflict may feel triggered by the content. Furthermore, the last 90 seconds of Clip 3, “A Big Problem in Human Terms” includes footage of an aggressive interrogation of a 13-year-old boy that may be upsetting to some students. Watch the clips ahead of time, consider your students and decide what content feels appropriate to bring into your class.

Advocate: Perceptions of Justice: Key Terms and Concepts

Subject Areas:

• World History/Global Studies
• Civics
• Constitutional Law
• Religious Studies

Grade Levels: [9-12]

Objectives:

In this lesson, students will:

• Consider the definition of “justice” in the context of the law and how individuals perceptions of justice are shaped
• Explore the context and moral framework that underpins Lea Tsemel’s legal work
• Articulate how the legal system might be used as a strategy of social change, and as a strategy to continue conflict

Materials:

• Film clips and equipment to project them
• Handout One, Transcripts for Clips 1, 2, and 3
• Handout Two, Transcripts for Clips 4 and 5
  • Advocate: Perceptions of Justice: Handouts

Time Needed:

Two 55-minute class periods with optional homework in between.

A political firebrand in her home country, Israeli lawyer Lea Tsemel is known by her opponents as "the devil's advocate," for her decades-long defense of Palestinians who have been accused of resisting the occupation, both violently and non-violently. Tsemel, who pushes the praxis of a human rights defender to its limits, takes on two contentious court cases in her tireless quest for justice.

Ver el avance de la película aquí e inscríbete para recibir actualizaciones aquí.

Y ella podría ser la siguiente sigue las campañas de base de seis mujeres de color con candidaturas a cargos políticos durante las muy disputadas elecciones estadounidenses de mitad de periodo en 2018. Producido por directoras de color, el documental ofrece un vistazo entre bastidores a estas mujeres líderes cuyas motivaciones personales, coaliciones políticas, y activismo al nivel más popular superaron las expectativas de sus oponentes y del público en general— desafiando en el proceso las nociones tradicionales de lo que significa ser político en EE. UU. La primera parte de las dos de la película provee un marco para un análisis crítico de la manera en que la raza, el género, y la clase operan en la política electoral en los Estados Unidos, centrándose en cómo los cambios demográficos se perciben como una amenaza a las estructuras de poder "democráticas" contemporáneas e históricas.

A group of tween girls chant into megaphones, marching in the San Francisco TransMarch. Holding clenched fists high, they wear brown berets and vests showcasing colorful badges like “Black Lives Matter” and “Radical Beauty.” Meet the Radical Monarchs, a group of young girls of color at the front lines of social justice.

Set in Oakland, a city with a deep history of social justice movements, WE ARE THE RADICAL MONARCHS documents the Radical Monarchs -- an alternative to the Scout movement for girls of color, aged 8-13. Its members earn badges for completing units on social justice including being an LGBTQ+ ally, the environment, and disability justice. The group was started by two, fierce, queer women of color, Anayvette Martinez and Marilyn Hollinquest as a way to address and center her daughter's experience as a young brown girl. Their work is anchored in the belief that adolescent girls of color need dedicated spaces and that the foundation for this innovative work must also be rooted in fierce inter-dependent sisterhood, self-love, and hope.

The film follows the first troop of Radical Monarchs for over three years, until they graduate, and documents the Co-Founders struggle to respond to the needs of communities across the US and grow the organization after the viral explosion of interest in the troop’s mission to create and inspire a new generation of social justice activists.

The expected outcome for this lesson plan is students will learn about the herstory of Radical Monarchs and can pull inspiration on how to strategize and cultivate hope in an ever pressing doom & gloom political climate.

A Note from Curriculum Creators Anayvette Martinez & Marilyn Hollinquest

In 2014 when we launched Radical Monarchs, we never imagined we’d spark a movement (or have a film crew follow us for 3 years to make a documentary)! As queer women of color, our herstories are often invisiblized or omitted so we are honored that this film has made it possible to archive our story and lift up the power of centering young girls of color in social justice activism work. In Radical Monarchs we believe that no issue or topic is too big to discuss with our Monarchs. Adults often underestimate the power ofyoung people. Radical Monarchs believe in creating a space where young people’s experiences are centered, no question is too big, and they are a part of creating actionable solutions to empower themselves and their communities. As Cofounders we felt compelled to create this lesson plan as a way to connect our vision to the kind of world we all deserve as seen by viewers of the documentary across classrooms, homes and community centers. The issues rooted in this film are: Social Justice, Feminism, LGBTQ, Allyship, Racism, Gentrification and Empowerment.

A Note to Teachers

Teachers, it is important for you to do a quick word association or brainstorm with your students to see what characteristics of people (age, gender, race, class, ability) your students consider when they hear the following descriptions: protestors, leaders, teachers. Call attention to any patterns you notice as they describe their ideas of what leaders look like and have a conversation where you wonder why? Please remind your students to keep track of what surprised them as they watched the film. Remind them to keep an open mind to all of the topics presented in the film, because many of the topics discussed in the film may be new or different.

Teachers it is also essential that you familiarize yourself with “Intersectionality” and “Intersectional Feminism”, coined by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw. Below are some resources to help you understand this concept:

• Kimberlé Crenshaw: What is Intersectionality? (YouTube Video)
• Kimberlé Crenshaw at Ted + Animation (YouTube Video)
• The origin of the term 'intersectionality' (website)

Kimberle Crenshaw’s original 1991 article, “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color” and podcast, “Intersectionality Matters!”

Subject Areas:

• Social Studies
• Ethnic Studies
• History
• Civics
• Political Science
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Grade Levels: 6-12

Objectives:

In this lesson, students will:

• Assess and evaluate why the need for girls of color spaces are needed and powerful
• Identify and discuss the importance and impact of youth leadership
• Define Intersectional Feminism and name how the Radical Monarchs practice this concept
• Discuss the role fierce sisterhood and community building has in movement building
• Exhibit, engage, and hone active listening skills

Materials:

• Film clips and equipment to project/screen the film clips
• Chart Paper
• Markers
• Pens/Pencils
• Half sheets of lined paper

Time Needed:

Four 60-minute class periods to watch the film and complete the activities.

Meet the Radical Monarchs, a group of young girls of color at the front lines of social justice. Set in Oakland, a city with a deep history of social justice movements, the film documents the journey of the group as they earn badges for completing units including being an LGBTQ+ ally, preserving the environment, and disability justice. Started by two fierce, queer women of color, we follow them as they face the challenge to grow the organization, both pre and post the 2016 election.

This list of fiction and nonfiction books was compiled by kYmberly Keeton - the African American Community Archivist and Librarian at the Austin Public Library in Austin, Texas. These suggested readings provide a range of perspectives on issues raised by the POV documentary We Are the Radical Monarchs and allow for deeper engagement.

Thank you to those who contributed to this guide:
Linda Goldstein Knowlton, Anayvette Martinez, Marilyn Hollinquest, and the POV Engage Team

Byers, Grace. I am Enough. Harper Collins, 2018.
This gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another comes from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A.

Chambers, Veronica. Shirley Chisholm is a Verb. Dial Book
A timely picture book biography about Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman in Congress, who sought the Democratic nomination to be the president of the United States.
Shirley Chisholm famously said, "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." This dynamic biography illuminates how Chisholm was a doer, an active and vocal participant in our nation's democracy, and a force to be reckoned with. Now young readers will learn about her early years, her time in Congress, her presidential bid and how her actions left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire, uplift, and instruct.

Harrison, Vashti. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2017.
Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in the world's history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations. Debut author/illustrator Vashti Harrison pairs captivating text with stunning illustrations as she tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures of black history, including: Nurse Mary Seacole, Politician Diane Abbott, Mathematician Katherine Johnson, and Singer Shirley Bassey. Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models and everyday women who did extraordinary things.

Nagara, Innosanto. A is for Activist. Seven Stories Press, 2012.
This bestselling ABC book is written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for. A continuous bestseller for Triangle Square, we heard from booksellers around the country who clamored for a large format edition that would appeal to children over the age of 5. This engaging book carries huge messages as it inspires hope for the future, and calls children and parents to action.

Nagara, Innosanto. Counting on Community. Triangle Square Publishers, 2015.
A counting book for young learners. Counting up from one stuffed piñata to ten hefty hens–and always counting on each other–children are encouraged to recognize the value of their community, the joys inherent in healthy eco-friendly activities, and the agency they posses to make change. A broad and inspiring vision of diversity is told through stories in words and pictures. And of course, there is a duck to find on every page!

Nagara, Innosanto. M is for Movement. Penguin, Random House, 2016.
Here is the story of a child born at the dawn of a social movement.
At first the protests were in small villages and at universities. But then they spread. People drew sustenance from other social movements in other countries. And then the unthinkable happened.
The protagonist in this fictionalized children’s memoir is a witness and a participant, fearful sometimes, brave sometimes too, and when things change, this child who is now an adult is as surprised as anyone.

Sanders, Rob. Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag. Random House, 2018.
In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today’s world. Award-winning author Rob Sanders’s stirring text, and acclaimed illustrator Steven Salerno’s evocative images, combine to tell this remarkable – and undertold – story. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride.

Schatz, Kate. Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries who Shaped Our History…and Our Future! City Lights/Sister Spit Press, 2015.
Like all A-Z books, this one illustrates the alphabet—but instead of “A is for Apple”, A is for Angela—as in Angela Davis, the iconic political activist. B is for Billie Jean King, who shattered the glass ceiling of sports; C is for Carol Burnett, who defied assumptions about women in comedy; D is for Dolores Huerta, who organized farmworkers; and E is for Ella Baker, who mentored Dr. Martin Luther King and helped shape the Civil Rights Movement. And the list of great women continues, spanning several centuries, multiple professions, and 26 diverse individuals. There are artists and abolitionists, scientists and suffragettes, rock stars and rabble-rousers, and agents of change of all kinds. The book includes an introduction that discusses what it means to be “rad” and “radical,” an afterword with 26 suggestions for how you can be “rad,” and a Resource Guide with ideas for further learning and reading.

"It is a contribution to truth, an array of facts, the perusal of which it is hoped will stimulate this great American Republic to demand that justice be done though the heavens fall."

Ida B. Wells, Oct. 26, 1892

Part two of And She Could Be Next peels back the curtain on one of the most insidious threats to American democracy: voter suppression. In this concluding episode, the spotlight turns toward the growing and tireless coalition work of multiethnic and multiracial organizers powering the grassroots campaigns of the women of color candidates featured in episode one. In their mission to expand democratic participation to communities of color, immigrant communities, disengaged voters, young people, and low-income communities, viewers witness firsthand how their efforts are met with systematic attempts to upend progress by stripping communities of their votes and voices.

In this lesson, students will learn about varied historic and contemporary voter suppression tactics used to exclude, silence, and intimidate potential voters in predominantly BIPOC communities. Students will research laws and policies, such as voter ID laws, proof of citizenship requirements, and voter registration policies, and analyze how these regulations expand or impede democractic participation to all. This lesson is intended to build on concepts introduced in lesson one but can also be a standalone lesson. The lesson also provides ample opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration across subject matter curricula for educators who want to develop grade-level unit plans across content areas (e.g., history, ELA, mathematics, government).

A Note from Curriculum Creator, Stacia Cedillo

We are taught in America that justice is inherent in the failsafe architecture of our democratic institutions. We are taught that our three branches of government — designed to operate in perfect balance by those we entrust to lead — form infallible pillars of accountability, fairness, objectivity, and oversight. We are taught that we have a fundamental and inalienable right to seek justice through a court system that ensures fair trials and due process. But what we aren’t taught about justice, we learn through other means. And what we learn from the “array of facts” about voting in America is that our institutions, and the people who lead them, are not always neutral arbiters of justice and democracy, as we are taught.

This journey of un-learning what we are taught about American democracy can be a difficult journey for many of us, including those like myself, who view schools and education as potential sites for radical transformation. I cringe when I think back to my first year teaching, recalling all the ways I uncritically taught American mythologies of equality, democracy, and justice to my eighth-grade students. My un-learning process has involved years of political engagement with grassroots activists, ongoing reflection of my own complicity in white supremacy as a white Latina, and a deep commitment to studying historic texts written by those who knew, long before I, that democracy and justice have never been a guarantee to everyone in America. One such scholar-historian is the great Ida B. Wells, quoted above, whose foundational reporting on lynching continues to shape my understanding of the perpetual presence of anti-Black intimidation and violence in this country. As a critical pedagogue, I believe that it is these encounters with truths-never-learned — moments of conscientização, to use Paolo Freire’s term — that are the beginnings of the necessary journey to re-imagine and re-work schools to be sites of emancipation, liberation, and justice.

A Note to Teachers

For many, discussion of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election can activate trauma, anxiety, and anger. The anti-immigrant, racist, misogynistic, and violent language that characterized that election carried over to the 2018 primary elections that are featured in this film. Take care to pay attention to students in your classroom whose identities, families, and communities are the intended target of this hateful rhetoric.

Subject Areas

• Civics
• Government
• U.S. History
• Language Arts
• Political Science

Grade Levels: [8-13+]

Objectives:

In this lesson, students will:

• Understand and analyze how specific U.S. laws, policies, and regulations enable targeted voter suppression and voter disenfranchisement.
• Discuss ways that policies can be improved to advance fairness in U.S. elections.
• Research local voting rights advocacy groups and grassroots organizations.

Materials:

• Film clips
• Notebook
• Writing utensil
• Chart paper, dry erase board, or document camera
• Internet access, or pre-prepared packets with up-to-date information on:
  • Your state’s voter registration laws
  • U.S. voter suppression laws

Time Needed:

Two to three 50- to 60-minute class periods.