Modern Race Relations

Charlottesville - Race and Terror * Language Warning Sorry

What It's Like to Take a Vaction Away From White People

After Bruno Mars is accused of cultural appropriation, black celebrities come to his defense


Watch these videos and read the articles.

1. Summarize the basic arguments of the racists in Charlottsville. What are they advocating for or against?

2. What is the overall tone of the video?

3. What do you think about the "Vacation Away From White People" idea?

4. What is Bruno Mars being accused of? Do you agree or disagree with these concerns and why?

Martin Luther King, Malcom X, and Ta Nehisi Coates

Malcolm X vs Martin Luther King

I Have A Dream Speech

The Case for Reparations - Ta-Nehisi Coates

1. Compare and Contrast MLK and Malcolm X's perspectives on racism and its solutions.

2. Read Ta-Nehsi Coates' article and explain why you agree or disagree with his arguments.

Teddy Roosevelt's Views on Race

Teddy Roosevelt - The Winning of the West

Read the first chapter:


1. What is TR focusing on?


2. What is his overall argument?


3. What racial group does he see as being truly "American," and what values and traditions does that group hold that have made it so successful?


4. How does he view natives and blacks in the context of American history?

Finally read this quote:

Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.
“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American … There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag … We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language … and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
Theodore Roosevelt 1907


1. Is this idea racist? Can it square with the other views of immigration you read earlier?

The Passage of the 13th Amendment

Even though the North was winning the war, and even though it seemed like the South would be force to unconditionally surrender. Read the articles, watch the video, and answer the associated questions.



Read the following article that explains how the process went

The Passage of the 13 Amendment


1. What made the passage of this amendment so difficult, even though most of the South was not even voting in the government?


Watch this video to see just how difficult the debate was.

2. What has Lincoln come to realize at this point in the war?


Now read this short word document from the speeches of Thaddeus Stevens before the Congress in support of the 13th Amendment.


The Speeches of Thaddues Stevens

This will open in a word document.

3. Provide a few quotes from these speeches that really stand out to you.


4. What can we learn from Thaddeus Stevens about the power of standing for principle in difficult times?

Lincoln Douglas Debates

Lincoln Douglas Debates 1858


Read this document and be prepared for a quiz.

La Amistad

La Amistad - Wikipedia Article

Trial Scene - Amistad



Watch this clip from the trial scene in the Movie Amistad and read the the description of the events in question.

1. What happened aboard La Amistad?


2. How did these men end up on trial?


3. What was John Quincy Adams role in this trial?


4. How did the story end?


5. Describe Adam's arguments.

What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?

Abridged Version of What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?

1. What does the 4th of July mean to you? Explain.

2. What does the 4th of July mean to Fredrick Douglas?

3. What is the Fourth of July to the Slave?

4. Does this document change how you see the Fourth of July? Should we celebrate it differently? Explain.