1920 Archives

Never to Forget: The Jews of the Holocaust

Book — Non-fiction. By Milton Meltzer. 1991. 240 pages.
A document-based historical account of Jewish experiences in Nazi Germany during World War II, for ages 12 and up.

Conscience and the Constitution

Film. By Frank Abe. 2000. 57 minutes.
In World War II, 63 Japanese Americans refused to be drafted from a U.S. concentration camp.

At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance — A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power

Book — Non-fiction. By Danielle L. McGuire. 2010. 352 pages.
History of the violence against African-American women during the 20th century and the role played by Rosa Parks in the organized legal response to that abuse.

Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun

Film. By Kristy Andersen. 2008. 84 minutes.
Documentary about the life, literature, and research of Zora Neale Hurston.

Labor Matters

Teaching Activity. By Teaching Tolerance.
Introduces students to the role of the labor movement in securing contemporary benefits such as the 40-hour work week, the minimum wage, and workplace safety regulations.

Flint Sit-Down Strike, 1936-1937

Poster. By Dylan Miner.
Informational poster about Roscoe Van Zandt and the Flint Sit-Down Strike.

Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin

Film. Produced by Nancy Kates and Bennett Singer. 2002. 83 minutes.
Documentary about the life of peace, labor, and civil rights activist Bayard Rustin.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration

Book — Non-fiction. By Isabel Wilkerson. 2010. 640 pages.
The story of the great migration told through in-depth descriptions of three families.

Learning About the Unfairgrounds: A 4th-Grade Teacher Introduces Her Students to Executive Order 9066

Teaching Activity. By Katie Baydo-Reed. Rethinking Schools. 10 pages.
Students hold a mixer and a mock trial in preparation for reading literature about internment.

Teaching the Hidden Story of Japanese Latin Americans During WWII

Teaching Activity. By Moé Yonamine. Rethinking Schools. 18 pages.
Poetry, photography, and text are used in this role play to teach about the seldom told history of Japanese Latin American internment during WWII.

No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller

Book — Non-fiction. By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. Artwork by R. Gregory Christie. 2012. 188 pages.
The story of Lewis Micheaux, owner of the famous National Memorial African Bookstore for grades 7+ .

The Great Migration: Journey to the North

Picture book. By Eloise Greenfield. Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. 2011. 32 pages.
A picture book that introduces the historic story of the Great Migration to young readers.

Mississippi Morning

Picture book. By Ruth Vander Zee. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. 2004. 32 pages.
A thought-provoking story of one boy's loss of naivete in the face of racism and harsh historical realities.

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba

Book — Fiction. By Margarita Engle. 2009. 208 pages.
Daniel has escaped Nazi Germany and must make his way in Cuba once New York turns away his ship full of refugees.

The Lincoln Brigade: A Picture History

Book — Non-fiction. By William Loren Katz and Marc Crawford. 2013. 196 pages.
Interviews, documents, and photos from the first fully integrated United States army, who volunteered to help Spain defend its democracy against fascism.

Teaching Activity by William Loren Katz