When John Lewis sought to change segregation laws in 1960 Nashville, Tennessee, he did so through nonviolent sit-ins. Throughout U.S. history, activists like John Lewis have turned to social change tactics outside of the institutions of democracy from which they have been largely excluded. However, social studies curricula rarely frame these…

This chapter details how slavery, segregation, and racism impacted the educational experiences of African Americans from the colonial era to the present. It argues that America has yet to be a truly post-slavery and post-segregation society, let alone a post-racial society.

Teachers don't typically encourage students to bring iPods to school, but when a girl in Ken Giles's class brought him "One Tribe," a song by the Black Eyed Peas, he was thrilled. Giles, a music teacher in Washington, D.C., uses protest music to illustrate the connections among culture, art, history and social movements and to help his students…

According to the dominant historiographical narrative, the social reconstructionists were a homogeneous group with a shared social, political, economic, and educational agenda. However, the pages of the journal "The Social Frontier" are replete with evidence that they were not in agreement on significant issues, especially when it came to the…

This article discusses contributions of women to the emergence of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Using network analysis, the author studied affiliations between African American and White women who signed "The Call," a petition calling for a national conference to obtain civil rights for African…

The author went to a talk, part of a lecture series on abolitionism, by scholar Eric Foner. Foner's thesis was that the abolition movement was the foundation of virtually all social justice movements in the United States. Foner's talk about the significance of the abolition movement inspired the author to rethink how he had been approaching the…

In 1981, Frederick Houk Borsch returned to Princeton University, his alma mater, to serve as dean of the chapel at the Ivy League school. In "Keeping Faith at Princeton," Borsch tells the story of Princeton's journey from its founding in 1746 as a college for Presbyterian ministers to the religiously diverse institution it is today. He…

This paper presents a case for reading and writing social justice poetry in the childhood educational curriculum. Social justice poetry uses verse to protest unfair and unjust living conditions in society. An historical case study shows how social justice poetry was used to combat social injustice in the United States. Specifically, it shows how…

The authors investigate the nearly ubiquitous cultural icon for girls' play, the princess. They survey historical instances of princess play from the beginning of the American republic to the New Millennium, look at the literature concerning princesses in various periods, and discuss the individual recollections about princess play of a number of…

In this article, I present a historical overview of the queer rights movement in the United States, from the late 1940s to today, weaving snapshots of my own life into the narrative, from living in the closet to being totally out, both personally and professionally. Because I was closeted at the beginning of my career, my research agenda did not…

This journal issue explores Iowa's participation in the U.S. Civil War and primarily focuses on what happened to the men, women, and children who remained at home. A number of social, political, and economic changes are examined, including: (1) the increased responsibilities of women and children; (2) the growth of abolitionism; (3) the role of…

Examines the diversity found in utopian views and social orders, focusing on the dichotomy between mechanistic and organic values found in current literature, philosophy, and sociology. Demonstrates the historical role of these values in the genesis of the United States. Argues for a dual American Dream, encompassing both arcadian and utopian…

This article documents the literary and adminstrative works of Annie Nathan Meyer, an early advocate of quality higher education for women. Documenting events surrounding the founding of Barnard College, the author maintains that Ms. Meyer may be viewed as the founder, though official histories mention her only as a "key person." (JDH)

Examines the historical characteristics of women in the United States. Discusses the conceptions of women's roles expressed by writers from Alexis de Tocqueville to Betty Friedan, specifically the notion of the woman's "sphere" in society. Concludes that the idea of "separate spheres" was used to characterize power…

Analyzes promotional brochures distributed by chautauqua circuits between 1904-1932. Illustrates how chautauqua programs reflected the social-intellectual themes of their time. Provides an understanding of how publicity agents viewed their audiences and modified rhetoric to meet the changing marketplace. (PD)