Accomplished African Americans Project

This is a mini unit that grew from the Civil Rights Activist Project. I realized students struggled to find biographies of people that aren't as famous in African American history. This includes links to their biographies on bio.com and a list of quotes from them. I had students make a poster, but you could easily have them make a mini poster in a google or word doc, have them make a poster and show it over video conferencing, or have them make a powerpoint. This is a good investment because it can be conducted over distance learning or in person. Everything is a google doc and can easily be changed to fit your needs.

This is scaffolded because it includes: a checklist for each day, scoring rubrics for each day, and a pacing guide. There are 6 women and 7 men ranging from 1753- 2018.

The people included in this project are:

1. Phyllis Wheatley 1753-1784 : Born in Gambia, Africa. Became literate while enslaved. Wrote poetry/ narratives about her life. The first African American Woman to publish a book in the U.S at the age of 13. First slave to publish a book of poetry. Heavily influenced by religion, secretly supported abolitionists
2. Sojourner Truth 1797-1883: Escaped Slavery with Her Daughter, Delivered Speeches for African American Women to Help Gain More Rights/Respect, recruited Blacks for the Union Army, fought for prison reform, property rights, and voting rights for Blacks.
3. Frederick Douglass 1818 -1895: Escaped slavery to become one of the most famous abolitionists of all time. Taught himself to read and became a famous writer. Educated whites about slave conditions to help end slavery, taught slaves to read and write. First African American to hold the highest government rank
4. Booker T. Washington 1856 -1915: Born into slavery, fought for his own education, founded one of the most famous colleges in the U.S., was an advisor to President Taft, helped build Black wealth in the South. Compromised w/ segregation
5. Ida B. Wells 1862-1931:Famous journalist, exposed lynching in the south, co-founded NAACP, teacher, helped get Blacks justice/ protected them against whites
6. George Washington Carver 1864 -1943: Survived slavery, faught for an education, became one of the most important agricultural scientists and inventors or the 1800s
7. W.E.B. Debois 1868 - 1963: Fought for education, first Black person to receive a Ph.D from Harvard, co-founded the NAACP, Famous writer, speaker, educator for Civil Rights, helped free Africans from European colonizers, fought for integration
8. Ella Baker 1903-1986: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, worked for NAACP, helped MLK Jr. found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, fought to end segregation/ Jim Crow practices in the South
9. Thurgood Marshall 1908-1993: Graduated 1st in his class at Howard Law School. First African American Supreme Court Justice.Won 29 out of 32 Supreme Court cases, more than any person ever argued, AND the most won. Got rights for African Americans though law
10. Dorothy Height 1912-2010: Famous speaker and activist. President of the National Council of Negro Women, got the YWCA integrated, worked with MLK Jr and organized his events, helped fight crime and drugs for Black families
11. Jesse Owens 1913-1980: Track Star. Broke track records world wide. Won 4 gold medals during the 1936 Berlin Olympics under Hitler’s rule. Fought racism in America through speeches and events.
12. Malcolm X 1925-1965: Black Civil Rights and Nation of Islam leader. Educated himself on law and history while incarcerated for 10 years. Helped the Nation of Islam grow. Supported Black separatism- the only way Blacks can become empowered and stay safe is to form a nation separate from whites.

13. Aretha Franklin 1942-2018: Grew up in her father’s church, participated in activism to unite whites and Blacks in Detroit, teen mom, received 18 Grammy’s, one of the best selling musicians of all time,fought for African and Native American rights