If We Knew Our History Series - Zinn Education Project

Climate Emergency: Media Silence Compounds the Risk

This year the Earth shattered climate records, and the entanglement of militarism and fossil fuels reveals new atrocities every day. However, Hurricane Otis and other disasters that signal climate emergency receive little to no mainstream media coverage and context.

Join Us in Nashville for NCSS 2023

We look forward to the 2023 National Coalition for the Social Studies conference in Nashville.

The Fight for Black History in Schools

Historian Michael Hines joined Cierra Kaler-Jones and Jesse Hagopian to discuss his book, A Worthy Piece of Work. This session was part of the Zinn Education Project’s Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

Double Your Donation for Giving Tuesday

Thanks to the generous support of Dave Colapinto, all donations to the Zinn Education Project through #GivingTuesday (Nov. 28) will be DOUBLED up to $15,000.

Teaching About the Violence in Palestine and Israel

We mourn the loss of Palestinian and Israeli lives and grieve for those who have lost loved ones due to the ongoing occupation and massive bombardment. One cannot understand this tragedy without acknowledging its history.

Popular Lessons

Check out this list of frequently downloaded lessons from the Zinn Education Project website in 2023!

Teach the Black Freedom Struggle Online Classes

Online classes for educators on teaching the Black Freedom Struggle. People's historians interviewed by classroom teachers and teacher educators.

Free Book for Teachers on African Americans During World War II

Thanks to a donation of books from the author and Dartmouth College, the Zinn Education Project is offering 10,000 paperback copies of Matthew Delmont's book on African Americans during WWII to public school teachers, school librarians, and teacher educators, who have a plan for using the text.

100+ Teaching for Black Lives Study Groups Formed for New School Year

For four years now, Teaching for Black Lives study groups have been sponsored by nurturing communities of anti-racist educators across the United States. This school year, more than 100 study groups are investigating what it means to teach for Black lives.

Defend the Teaching of People’s History

To continue to support educators with free people’s history resources we need your help. The Right has a well-funded campaign to suppress the truth. Your donation defends teachers who #TeachTruth.

A People’s History of the Black Working Class

Historian Blair L. M. Kelley joined Rethinking Schools editor Jesse Hagopian to discuss her book, Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class. This session was part of the Zinn Education Project’s Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

Free Book for Your Teaching Story

The New Press is offering a free copy of the book to teachers who share stories about teaching any of the lessons at the Zinn Education Project on war and anti-war campaigns.

Eyes on the Prize Teacher Survey

Documentary filmmakers Marco Williams and Maia Harris are producing a film about the making of and legacy of Eyes on the Prize. An important part of the story is how the series is used in classrooms today.

People’s History Teaching Stories in 2023

Stories about the impact of people's history lessons in the classroom.

Reparations and Climate Justice

On May 6, 2024, philosophy professor Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò will discuss his book Reconsidering Reparations. This session is part of the Zinn Education Project’s Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

Free Spanish Edition of A Young People’s History of the United States

Seven Stories Press is offering free copies of their new book, La historia del pueblo de Estados Unidos para jóvenes to middle and high school public school teachers, school librarians, and teacher educators, who have a plan for using and promoting the text.

#TeachTruth About Constitution Day

On this Constitution Day, let’s commit ourselves to teach the truth. Let’s look deeply and critically at how this document may have offered a republican form of government for some, but denied humanity to others, and contributed to the system of white supremacy we still need to dismantle.

Teaching in Dangerous Times: Lessons from SNCC

SNCC veterans Courtland Cox, Jennifer Lawson, and Judy Richardson discuss how the lessons they learned during the Civil Rights Movement are applicable today. This session was part of the Zinn Education Project’s Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

Reconstruction Workshop at Yale University

This one day workshop is for teachers to explore themes, strategies, and primary sources related to teaching Reconstruction and to provide support to educators in the teaching of this critical era.

Book Bans Threaten Public Education

In 2023, not only are books being banned, but also the right to teach about racism and LGBTQI identity — essentially placing thousands more titles off limits. The official lists of banned books are a drop in the bucket.

The Climate Crisis Has a History

We offer a new timeline of the climate crisis that traces its roots from European colonial expansion and racial capitalism to present-day fossil fuel industry and government projects that exploit and destroy the Earth in the name of maximum profit. It also emphasizes moments and movements of resistance and activism that inform climate justice work today.

Teachers Describe Chilling Impact of Anti-Education Laws

While book bans make the headlines, the chilling effect of the bans and anti-education laws have an even deeper impact. Our Teaching for Black Lives study groups provide support for teachers in the face of these dire conditions. However, we want to alert everyone to the nature of the repression.