- Talk about how slaves were forbidden by law to read and about how many risked their lives so that they could not only learn to read, but teach others as well. Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and others are good examples of slaves who risked all to educate and help others. Have students choose an African American educator, past or present and write a report on their particular contributions.
- Have students research a particular school and write up its history. There are many schools that really advanced education for African Americans. Choose from The Institute for Colored Youth, Ashmun Institute, Wilberforce University, Howard University for Law and others. Have students do an oral presentation and discuss what each school meant to African Americans and where these schools are today.
- Have students research a particular landmark in the cause of desegregation. Make a timeline from the Civil War to today and assign each student a particular year that contains an event or decision about the topic. Have the students give presentations about their part in the timeline in order, and the class will have an oral history of the battle for equal rights to education.
- Have the students choose a college or university and research the African American Studies curriculum. Tell them to look for Black Lit, African American Social Problems and other classes by name, as all schools won't have entire departments. They may be surprised to learn that some schools have no such curriculum at all.
- To cap off this study, talk about how many African Americans are well educated and employed in the highest jobs and offices in the nation. Let each student choose her favorite present-day African American and talk about the difference that she has made in society. You can assign students these persons so that each one can teach the class about someone different.
