Past Courses

This 6-week course will introduce you to the guiding principles of Black Lives Matter, place them in a historical context, and give you tools to discuss them with your students or children.

Course Overview:

There’s more to Black Lives Matter than responding to police brutality. The Thirteen Principles offer a framework for building a more just society, and young children are primed to learn about them. In this six-week course, you’ll learn about U.S. history and how our “peculiar institution” of slavery has reverberations that have echoed for the past 400 years; explore alternatives to the systems that uphold white supremacy; reflect on the roles of allies and accomplices; and, of course, learn about how to talk to your children or students about Black Lives Matter and what they can do to make the world a better place.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what we covered:

Jul -Aug

July - August

2020

Session 1

Get ready for some hard work!

History

Black Lives Matter at School
US History and the Social Contract
Systems and Why they Matter

The Guiding Principles

Today’s Principles:

Collective Value
Unapologetically Black

Session 2

You made it! Let’s do some more!

History

Black Lives Matter at School - Week of Action Demands
Policing

Today’s Principles

Empathy
Diversity
Restorative Justice

Session 3

Intersectionality and Identity

History

Combahee River Collective
Gloria Richardson, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks

Today’s Principles

Black Women
Transgender Affirming

Session 4

What is a Family?

History

Urban removal
Welfare “reform”

Today’s Principles

Black Families
Intergenerational

Session 5

Let’s Use Our Imaginations!

History

Imperialism
The Myth of American Exceptionalism
Black responses - bell hooks, Adrienne Marie Brown

Today’s Principles

Loving Engagement
Globalism

Session 6

Dreaming into the Future(s)

History

Octavia Butler warned us
What future will our children imagine for themselves?
What are the roles of accomplices and allies?

Today’s Principles

Queer Affirming
Black Villages

Interested in the Archives?

You can purchase access to homework packets and recording of classes here.

Nov - Dec

November - December

2020

Session 1

Get ready for some hard work!

History

Black Lives Matter at School
US History and the Social Contract
Systems and Why they Matter

The Guiding Principles

Today’s Principles:

Collective Value
Unapologetically Black

Session 2

You made it! Let’s do some more!

History

Black Lives Matter at School - Week of Action Demands
Policing

Today’s Principles

Empathy
Diversity
Restorative Justice

Session 3

Intersectionality and Identity

History

Combahee River Collective
Gloria Richardson, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks

Today’s Principles

Black Women
Transgender Affirming

Session 4

What is a Family?

History

Urban removal
Welfare “reform”

Today’s Principles

Black Families
Intergenerational

Session 5

Let’s Use Our Imaginations!

History

Imperialism
The Myth of American Exceptionalism
Black responses - bell hooks, Adrienne Marie Brown

Today’s Principles

Loving Engagement
Globalism

Session 6

Dreaming into the Future(s)

History

Octavia Butler warned us
What future will our children imagine for themselves?
What are the roles of accomplices and allies?

Today’s Principles

Queer Affirming
Black Villages

Interested in the Archives?

You can purchase access to homework packets and recording of classes here.

Jan - Feb

January - February

2021

Session 1

Get ready for some hard work!

History

Black Lives Matter at School
US History and the Social Contract
Systems and Why they Matter

The Guiding Principles

Today’s Principles:

Collective Value
Unapologetically Black

Session 2

You made it! Let’s do some more!

History

Black Lives Matter at School - Week of Action Demands
Policing

Today’s Principles

Empathy
Diversity
Restorative Justice

Session 3

Intersectionality and Identity

History

Combahee River Collective
Gloria Richardson, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks

Today’s Principles

Black Women
Transgender Affirming

Session 4

What is a Family?

History

Urban removal
Welfare “reform”

Today’s Principles

Black Families
Intergenerational

Session 5

Let’s Use Our Imaginations!

History

Imperialism
The Myth of American Exceptionalism
Black responses - bell hooks, Adrienne Marie Brown

Today’s Principles

Loving Engagement
Globalism

Session 6

Dreaming into the Future(s)

History

Octavia Butler warned us
What future will our children imagine for themselves?
What are the roles of accomplices and allies?

Today’s Principles

Queer Affirming
Black Villages

Interested in the Archives?

You can purchase access to homework packets and recording of classes here.

Mar - Apr

March - April

2020

Session 1

Get ready for some hard work!

History

Black Lives Matter at School
US History and the Social Contract
Systems and Why they Matter

The Guiding Principles

Today’s Principles:

Collective Value
Unapologetically Black

Session 2

You made it! Let’s do some more!

History

Black Lives Matter at School - Week of Action Demands
Policing

Today’s Principles

Empathy
Diversity
Restorative Justice

Session 3

Intersectionality and Identity

History

Combahee River Collective
Gloria Richardson, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks

Today’s Principles

Black Women
Transgender Affirming

Session 4

What is a Family?

History

Urban removal
Welfare “reform”

Today’s Principles

Black Families
Intergenerational

Session 5

Let’s Use Our Imaginations!

History

Imperialism
The Myth of American Exceptionalism
Black responses - bell hooks, Adrienne Marie Brown

Today’s Principles

Loving Engagement
Globalism

Session 6

Dreaming into the Future(s)

History

Octavia Butler warned us
What future will our children imagine for themselves?
What are the roles of accomplices and allies?

Today’s Principles

Queer Affirming
Black Villages