Black Liberation Study

The 6th grade study of history focuses on revolution and the struggle towards Black liberation across time periods and in different places globally. They begin by examining the land and the various aboriginal people’s roots on this land before it was renamed “the Americas.” Students use The New York Times’ “1619 Project'” as a case study to dig deeper into the history of enslavement in the colonies and hierarchical structures of racism, capitalism, and patriarchy. Texts such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are critically examined to gain a deeper understanding of intersectional oppression and the structures of power that serve as the foundations of American society. Students also study the ways that the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments, the three branches of government, and electoral politics contribute to unjust conditions that persist today. These texts are studied alongside Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Harlem Renaissance, and the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. and as a bridge to our study of slavery, race, and civil disobedience. The study then extends into examining more recent musings on black identity, in particular how Black Joy can be a vital mode of reclamation and resilience. Sixth graders end the year with the opportunity to explore Afro-Futurism through the arts and literature.