Learning For Justice

John Lewis, a civil rights leader who served for over three decades in the U.S. House of Representatives, is known for his lifelong fight for equality, justice and democracy.

Narratives are a deeply meaningful way that we learn about ourselves, each other and the world. And film can be a powerful medium for expression, connection and learning, helping to build empathy and understanding. Learning for Justice Through Film builds on our program’s 30-year history of educational films, with learning opportunities for classrooms and communities. Film can bring liberation to life, inspiring and challenging us to build a more inclusive, multiracial democracy.

Learning for Justice Partners With Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival

This overview of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom includes activities to help young children and families make connections to history, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and the children’s story “The Night Before the Dream.” On Aug. 28, 1963, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom drew a crowd of more than 250,000 people from across the United States. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the speakers and gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

A teacher’s actions can build stronger relationships and foster positive classroom community. On the other hand, some habits can also negatively affect student behavior and undermine community. Educators should carefully examine habits, recognize the effects of their own behaviors, and make the essential choices to build positive culture. 1. Reflect on respect.

Understanding who is in the room with you can help shape intentional relationship-building with young people and their families. The following reflection and recommendations are adapted from the Learning for Justice PD Café column “Who’s in Your Classroom?” 1. Begin with yourself. Write down six words or phrases that define your identity. Now select the one you consider least essential to who you are and take it off the list.

Black Americans have continuously engaged in a long and arduous struggle for equal participation in our nation.

Teaching Recommendations The following strategies can help educators grappling with how to address issues of race and teach about slavery. Be clear about why we are studying these hard history topics. Educators need to clearly explain the reasons for discussing difficult issues and hard history topics like slavery — topics which will undoubtedly evoke emotions for all students. What’s the reason for doing this?

Welcome to the Learning Center: Civic and Political Action Learning for Everyone. The Learning Center is LFJ’s online popular education space for everyone — community members, parents, educators and youth — offering learning for civic and political action to build an inclusive, multiracial democracy. When we “learn for justice,” we center learning to inform our actions for change and progress in our communities.

In this introduction to Season 4, which examines the Jim Crow Era, co-hosts Hasan Kwame Jeffries and Bethany Jay discuss how students need to grasp this history to understand injustices many of them face today, from voter suppression to mass incarceration. People from all corners of public life are telling teachers to stop discussions about race and racism in the classroom, but keeping the truth of the world from students simply doesn’t work.