As the nation faces ongoing threats of white supremacist violence and voter suppression legislation, the Zinn Education Project is releasing this open letter signed by more than 180 prominent scholars of U.S. history urging school districts to devote more time and resources to teaching the Reconstruction era in upper elementary, middle, and high school U.S. history and civics courses.

The letter’s signatories include Eric Foner, Ibram X. Kendi, Isabel Wilkerson, Bryan Stevenson, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Charles Payne, Kate Masur, James Loewen, Greg Carr, Keisha Blain, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Joshua Rothman, Tyler Parry, Hilary Green, Erica Armstrong Dunbar, and Jeanne Theoharis.

Gregory P. Downs, professor at the University of California at Davis, explains why he signed this letter: “If students don’t understand Reconstruction, they don’t understand U.S. history, politics, or form of government, nor do they understand the history of racism and racial oppression in the country. I signed this open letter because no period in U.S. history is more important for the nation’s story nor more relevant to the students’ experiences today.”

Bring This Open Letter to Your School District

As a companion to the open letter by U.S. history scholars, we ask everyone to sign a petition to school districts to devote more time and resources to teaching the Reconstruction era. The petition states:

In this pivotal moment for the United States, we the undersigned call on education leaders to ensure students have the knowledge to be active participants in a multiracial democracy. To honor our history and the urgency of the present moment, we urge you to adopt resolutions committing to teaching the grassroots history of Reconstruction.

Donate to Teach Reconstruction Campaign

Pat Michelsen and Eric Dean generously offered to match donations up to $15,000 in support of the Zinn Education Project Teach Reconstruction campaign. Their donation honors family friend and history teacher Theodore “Tom” Kane (1922 – 2010). Kane inspired Pat, who had dropped out of high school, to apply for a college scholarship and complete her degree.

Pat and Eric noted, "We want to honor and support the current generation of teachers who, like Tom, respond to current events by reaching ‘outside of the textbook’ to equip young people with the skills and knowledge they need to actively shape a more just and equitable future."

Pat and Eric invite you to join them in supporting the campaign to teach about the Reconstruction era. They will match every donation you make up to $15,000. Donate now.

The Zinn Education Project is producing a national report on the teaching of the Reconstruction era, including a state-by-state assessment.

The report will examine state standards, course requirements, frameworks, and support for teachers in each state. It will also include stories about creative efforts by districts and/or individual teachers in each state to teach outside the textbook about Reconstruction.

If you are an educator at the state, district, or classroom level, please respond to this survey. We will send you a one-year print and digital subscription to Rethinking Schools magazine in appreciation for your time.