On the Road to Justice

Seventh graders immersed themselves today in stories of the African American experience at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. As part of the 7th grade Road to Justice seminar class, their trip to the museum brings into focus civil rights initiatives during emancipation, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow eras.

 

Historical moments from the Civil War to emancipation and the Red Summer of 1919 allow teachers to feature contributions of early civil rights activists like W.E.B. duBois, Ida B. Wells, A. Philip Randolf, and Booker T. Washington. African Americans served in the military throughout the history of the United States, and these activists’ efforts are recognized as a part of the Double Victory campaign to build equality for soldiers upon their return from war.

 

According to Director of Diversity Michelle Belton, one of the goals of the field trip is to help students “visualize the markers of reconstruction” beginning with Thomas Jefferson’s paradox of liberty. “We have not truly lived the essence of democracy,” she explains. She wants students to adopt a critical lens when engaging with history, rather than accepting it as a set narrative. For instance, many history books record the Reconstruction era as a failure and neglect to adequately represent positive outcomes from contributions by African Americans during this time such as public education and the 13th and 14th Amendments.

 

Lessons from this museum visit will construct a frame of reference for 7th graders to draw upon while reading Just Mercy (YA). This book by Bryan Stevenson is the central text of the Road to Justice seminar, and it helps students see the legacy of slavery in the laws and institutions of today.