Student Overjoyed to Receive a Book

Nelva Williamson. Photo by Angelica Flores.

I just want to tell you how grateful I am to have received my class set of Jeanne Theoharis’ book on Rosa Parks. Once again, we are doing a book study using The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks to introduce my sophomores to some of the history they will learn in APUSH.

One student said she was excited to get an actual book to read and not just printed copies or a short excerpt. My heart is full just thinking about how excited she is! In Houston ISD, students aren’t required to read novels or entire books, so many of them have not read a book thus far in high school.

This is the second year I am using Theoharis’ book as an end-of-the-year project. The girls are excited about not only having a project instead of a final exam, but also to learn about the Civil Rights Movement.

Students with posters about a chapter from The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. Click image to see more clearly.

Each student prepared a two-minute mini lesson on their chapter, along with their poster. Students commented that they appreciated the chance to create using paper, pen, and images — away from their computer screens.

I am using the other book you provided as a class set — Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad by Matt Delmont — with my juniors to explore the impact of laws and the Constitution on African Americans. This includes case law to help them prepare for a course on Government next year.

Students with posters about a chapter from Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad. Click image to see more clearly.

Through their engagement with both books, students saw how progress had been made in the struggle for racial equity and is now being rolled back.

Thank you to the staff of the Zinn Education Project for trusting and supporting educators and students, and for providing resources to teach truth.