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Each year the Zinn Education Project hosts Teaching for Black Lives study groups across the United States. Using the Rethinking Schools book Teaching for Black Lives, educators explore how to teach about racism, resistance, and joy in free, teacher-led professional learning communities.

Educators report that the study groups not only deepen their knowledge and improve their practice — they also increase their resolve to continue teaching honestly. And they provide a community of accountability and mutual support.

Here is what study group members tell us.  

We are accepting applications for 2023–2024. Read more and apply.

Prentiss Charney Fellow

Spotlight

Nick teaches African American History, Queer Studies, and IB History at Central High School in Philadelphia. Prior to his last five years in the classroom, Nick designed and facilitated political education for high schoolers and worked on the leadership team of Teacher Action Group — work that cemented his plans to move into the classroom. 

Nick is currently revising for publication a classroom simulation he designed, Queer Liberation Movements from 1950–2016.

In the face of the current wave of policies, bills, and laws banning Queer and Trans books and curriculum, Nick’s forthcoming curriculum is an important act of resistance. 

We are lucky to teach, learn, and organize alongside Nick and all the Prentiss Charney Fellows. Consider a donation to continue and expand the fellowship, in honor of lifelong education activists C. J. Prentiss and Michael Charney.

To date, more than 25 groups have signed up to co-sponsor the June 10 Teach Truth Day of Action, including Teach Rock, the Pulitzer Center’s 1619 Education Program, Amplifier, the Advancement Project, Learning for Justice, and the National Education Association.

In Nashville, thousands of students walked out of their classrooms on April 3 and marched to the state Capitol demanding lawmakers pass gun control legislation, including a ban on assault weapons.

The response by the GOP was to threaten Democratic lawmakers who supported the students. “We’re calling for a ban on assault weapons. They are assaulting our democracy,” said Rep. Justin Jones.

We appreciate Democracy Now! for covering this critically important news story that has received too little attention in corporate media.

Young people around the country are reading The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks and watching the documentary of the same name.

Thanks to donations, teachers can request five copies of the book. (Donations are also welcome so we can distribute more copies.)

Our thanks to everyone who voted for the Zinn Education Project on the CREDO donations ballot in December. The results have been tallied. The Zinn Education Project received $27,433.

Missed the opportunity to vote in December? We still need your support. You can make a direct donation.

You can also sign up for CREDO. They offer $250 off any smartphone and a separate $50 donation will go to the Zinn Education Project. Use the code ZinnPG50 at credomobile.com.

Conferences and Classes

For Social Justice Educators

Check out the list of upcoming events hosted by the Zinn Education Project and our colleagues — for example, the upcoming classes in the Zinn Education Project Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online series. And our friends at Learning for Justice are hosting Professional Learning Institutes this summer in Alabama and Mississippi. Applications are due by April 16.

Teachers are under attack for teaching truthfully about U.S. history. Please donate so that we can continue to offer free people’s history lessons and resources, and defend teachers’ right to use them.

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PO BOX 73038, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20056 

202-588-7205 | zinnedproject.org