Teaching Materials Archive

Langston Hughes: “Montage of a Dream Deferred”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Langston Hughes' "Montage of a Dream Deferred" (1951) by Danny Glover.

Sam Cooke: A Change is Gonna Come

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" (1964), is performed by Allison Moorer.

Which Side Are You On?: The Story of a Song

Picture book. By George Ella Lyon. Artwork by Christopher Cardinale. 2011. 40 pages.
This children's book tells the story of a classic union song written in 1931 and the harsh conditions under which it was written.

Vicky Starr: “Back of the Yards”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Vicky Star's "Back of the Yards" by Christina Kirk.

Cindy Sheehan: “It’s Time the Antiwar Choir Started Singing”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Cindy Sheehan's speech "It's Time the Antiwar Choir Started Singing" (2005) is read by Marisa Tomei and Staceyann Chin.

On Coal River

Film. Directed by Francine Cavanaugh and Adams Wood. 2010. 81 minutes.
This film takes viewers on a gripping emotional journey into a community surrounded by a looming toxic threat.

Songs of Social Significance: David Rovics

Digital collection. Hundreds of songs about social justice issues and people's history.

Bartolomé de Las Casas: “Devastation of the Indies: A Brief Account”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Bartolome de las Casas' "Devastation of the Indies: A Brief Account" (1542) by John Sayles, Viggo Mortensen, and Staceyann Chin.

Mario Savio: Memorial Lecture Fund

Website. This website provides information about the free speech activist as well as information about nominating students for the Young Activist Award.

Rachel Corrie: “Letter from Palestine”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Rachel Corrie's "Letter from Palestine" (2003) read by her mother, Cindy Corrie.

E.Y. “Yip” Harburg: “Brother Can You Spare a Dime”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg's "Brother Can You Spare a Dime" (1932) is performed by Allison Moorer.

SNCC’s Speech Delivered by John Lewis at the March on Washington

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
SNCC's original speech to be delivered at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom by John Lewis.

Chief Tecumseh: “Speech to the Osages”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Chief Tecumseh's "Speech to the Osages" (Winter 1811-1812) by Deepa Fernandes.

Henry McNeal Turner: “Eligibility of Colored Members to Seats in the Georgia Legislature”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Henry McNeal Turner's "Eligibility of Colored Members to Seats in the Georgia Legislature" (1868), read by Danny Glover.

Langston Hughes: “Ballad of Roosevelt”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Langston Hughes' "Ballad of Roosevelt" (1934) by Danny Glover.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Beyond Vietnam”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Dr. Martin Luther King's "Beyond Vietnam" (1967) speech by Michael Ealy.

June Jordan: “Speech Against the Gulf War”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of June Jordan's "Speech Against the Gulf War" (1991) by Kathleen Chalfant.

Malcolm X: “Message to the Grass Roots”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Malcolm X's "Message to the Grass Roots" (1963) by Mos Def.

Chief Joseph: “Account of His Trip to Washington, D.C.”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Chief Joseph's "Account of His Trip to Washington, D.C." (1879) by Q'Orianka Kilcher.

Yuri Kochiyama | Zinn Education Project: Teaching People's History

Yuri Kochiyama: “Then Came the War”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Yuri Kochiyama's "Then Came the War" (1991) by Deepa Fernandes.

Eugene Debs: “Canton, Ohio”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Dramatic reading of Eugene Deb's "Canton, Ohio" speech made on June 16, 1918 by Marc Ruffalo.

Frederick Douglass | Zinn Education Project

Frederick Douglass: “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro”

Film clip. Voices of a People's History.
Frederick Douglass' speech "The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro" (1852) is read by Danny Glover.

Dirty Business: “Clean Coal” and the Battle for Our Energy Future

Film. Produced by Peter Bull, Justin Weinstein, Alex Gibney. 2010. 88 minutes.
A feature documentary that addresses the questions: Can coal be made clean? Can renewables and efficiency happen on a scale large enough to replace coal?

Hills of Tennessee

Song. By David Rovics. 2005.
Eye-opening song that tells of the perils of mountain top removal.

Battle of Blair Mountain

Song. By David Rovics. 2003.
Ballad about the West Virginia Coal Mine War of 1920-1921.