Women in the Civil Rights Movement

About the inquiry

This inquiry leads students an opportunity to explore the role of women in the Civil Rights movements. The inquiry focuses on the efforts of four women in the Civil Rights Movement. The inquiry first asks students to examine how Dolores Huerta’s work contributed to the solidarity of the Civil Rights movement. Students then examine how the activism of Yuri Kochiyama contributed to the solidarity of the Civil Rights movement. From there, the inquiry shifts to provide students with an opportunity to explore the contributions of the Native American activist Wilma Mankiller to the Civil Rights movement. Lastly, the theme of solidarity of the Civil Rights movement concludes with students exploring the work of the student activist and co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Diane Nash.

Compelling Question

How did women impact the Civil Rights Movement?

Staging Question

Think-Pair-Share about women might be featured on U.S. quarters including.

Supporting Question

How did the activism of Dolores Huerta contribute to the solidarity of the Civil Rights movement?

Formative Tasks

Make a claim with evidence about how Dolores Huerta demonstrated solidarity with women through her activism.

Sources

Source A: PBS: Latino Americans: The Farm Worker Movement Source B: Google Arts & Culture: One Life: Dolores Huerta Source C: TeachRock: Dolores Huerta and The United Farm Workers - “A Street Called Dolores Huerta”) -

Supporting Question

How did the activism of Yuri Kochiyama contribute to the solidarity of the Civil Rights movement?

Formative Tasks

Make a claim with evidence about how Yuri Kochiyama demonstrated solidarity with women through her activism.

Sources

Source A: NPR Podcast: Our Own People Source B: Stanford Libraries: Rise Up for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Yuri Kochiyama Source C: Densho Encyclopedia: Yuri Kochiyama remembers first becoming aware of racism directed at African Americans

Supporting Question

How did the activism of Wilma Mankiller contribute to the solidarity of the Civil Rights movement?

Formative Tasks

Make a claim with evidence about how Wilma Mankiller demonstrated solidarity with women through her activism.

Sources

Source A: Poem: I want to be reincarnated as Gloria Steinem Source B: Katie Couric Media: See Her Story: Wilma Mankiller | First Female Chief of the Cherokee Nation Source C: New York Times: Wilma Mankiller, Cherokee Chief and First Woman to Lead Major Tribe, is Dead at 64 Source D: PBS Learning Media: MANKILLER | Activist. Feminist. Cherokee Chief

Supporting Question

How did the activism of Diane Nash contribute to the solidarity of the Civil Rights movement?

Formative Tasks

Make a claim with evidence about how Diane Nash demonstrated solidarity with women through her activism.

Sources

Source A: YouTube: Diane Nash Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom Source B: Fisk Alumna, Dr. Diane Nash, Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom Source C: American Experience: Freedom Riders: The Student Leader Source D: SNCC Digital Gateway: Diane Nash

Summative Performance Task

Argument: How did women impact the Civil Rights Movement? Construct an argument (e.g. detailed outline, poster, essay, etc.) in response to the compelling question using specific claims and evidence from different sources.

Extension: Choose any of the women featured in the case studies or choose an alternate, lesser-known civil rights activist to feature in an infographic.

Taking Informed Action

Understand:

Assess:

Act: Students can take informed action in many ways as exemplified by the lives of the women featured in this lesson plan, from writing poetry, to advocating for others as an ally, to participating in social or political activism, to volunteering during an election year, to voting in local, state, and national elections.

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