The year 1963 marks the 50th anniversary of many milestones in the civil rights movement. In the current issue of Teaching Tolerance, “Once Upon a Time in America” traces some of the movements’ toughest trials. The feature is accompanied by a chronological timeline of some of these events and the people—often unfamiliar to students—who were part of them. We’ve gathered some text, video and online resources that will guide you in your teaching.
Birmingham
Public Library Digital Collection—16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
Powerful images, newspaper clippings and documents
chronicle the KKK bombing of the city’s 16th Street Baptist Church,
which killed four girls.
Brother
Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin
During the 100th anniversary of Rustin’s
birth, this website provides information on “Brother Outsider,” a film
available on DVD about the life of the openly gay civil rights activist
who—among other things—organized the March on Washington.
March on
Washington—WGBH Open Vault
The public television station’s Media Library and
Archives hosts an online collection of images and broadcast sound files from
the 1963 March on Washington. For example, you can listen to Mahalia Jackson singing, “I’ve Been
‘Buked and I’ve Been Scorned” here.
Martin Luther
King, Jr. Online
This public domain research site includes text and audio
and video recordings of King’s speeches and writings, including “Letter from
Birmingham Jail.”
Medgar Evers
From the Biography channel, a profile of activist Medgar
Evers that includes audio and video on his early life, his fight against
discrimination, his murder and the aftermath.
Teaching
Tolerance—“Mighty Times: The Children’s March”
Produced by Teaching Tolerance in association with HBO, “The
Children’s March” tells the story of the young people of Birmingham, Alabama,
who braved fire hoses and police dogs in 1963 to bring segregation to its
knees. Available free to educators, the film is part of a kit that includes a
standards-based teacher’s guide.
The Sixth Floor
Museum
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is housed in the
former Texas Schoolbook Depository from where President John F. Kennedy was
assassinated. The Dallas museum includes documents and images related to
Kennedy’s life and death, including the Abraham Zapruder film, and makes these
materials available online.
U.S. Department
of Justice—The Desegregation of the University of Alabama
Documents and newspaper articles related to the
desegregation of the University of Alabama by National Guard troops.
