Dr. Yohuru Williams on Using History to Teach the Capitol Riots
Ask students: What is thepurpose in looking to history to process the Capitol riots? Who are the individuals Dr. Williams discusses in this video clip?
January 15, 2021
Ask students: What is thepurpose in looking to history to process the Capitol riots? Who are the individuals Dr. Williams discusses in this video clip?
Share
Using History to Teach About the Capitol Riots
This lesson is based on NewsHour EXTRA’s Zoom on Jan. 7th, the day after the riot at the Capitol, as a guide to help educators teach about the day’s events. Note: It is more suited to older high school students. You may also wish to watch the full Zoom in which Dr. Williams discusses teaching about the attack at greater length.
Dr. Williams is the head of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and author and editor of numerous books, including “Teaching U.S. History Beyond the Textbook : Six Investigative Strategies, Grades 5-12.” He is a scholar of civil rights and the Black Power movement, an education activist and frequent public commentator, including with History Channel’s Sound Smart series.
First, watch Dr. Williams talk about his work as a history teacher in Washington D.C. Ask your students: How did Dr. Williams’ use the Preamble in his classes to discuss gender equality and the Black Panthers? How do you think Dr. Williams would use the Preamble to discuss the attack on the U.S. Capitol building?
Now watch the main video clip of Dr. Williams discussing the use of primary sources in teaching about the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Then answer the discussion questions below.
Focus Questions
Media Literacy:Dr. Williams spoke alongside author Kenneth C. Davis on a NewsHour EXTRA Zoom held on Jan. 7, 2021, for educators, school staff and students, just one day after the U.S. Capitol riots. It’s always a good idea to learn about the individuals featured in all forms of media, including this resource. You can learn more about Dr. Williams’s work at the Racial Justice Initiative here.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Extra.