TOPIC 6.4 The “New South”
Responses to the Failures of ReCONSTRUCTION: Racism and AntiraCism from Black Leaders
Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Henry McNeal Turner
KC-6.3.II.C … racial segregation helped to mark the end of most of the political gains African Americans made during Reconstruction. Facing increased violence, discrimination, and scientific theories of race, African American reformers continued to fight for political and social equality.
Objectives: 1. Students will be able to explain the achievements of famous Black leaders of the late 19th century
2. Students will practice antiracist historical skills through critical analysis of primary source materials.
Antiracism in the US history classroom:
“I am here to demand my rights and to hurl thunderbolts at the men who would dare to cross the threshold of my manhood…” - Henry McNeal Turner
This lesson reinforces the antiracist theme that racial disparities are abnormal and are caused by racist laws. Any attempt to blame Black people for America’s racial disparities, no matter the race of the person making such a claim, is incorrect both scientifically and morally.
Notes
In my class, this lesson follows the study of the Exodusters (6.3) and continues the discussion about the Black responses to the failures of Reconstruction This lesson also specifically reviews content from Antiracist APUSH lessons 1.5 Let’s Talk about Race and 5.5 Racism and Antiracism from White Abolitionists.
The day following this lesson, we continue looking at the “New” South. I use materials from the Zinn Education Project on the formation of the Comité des Citoyens which led to the Plessy v. Ferguson legal challenge. We conclude our study of the “New South” with a discussion question: is the “New South” is an appropriate term? Frequently, students will refer back to 6.3 lesson on the Exodusters and conclude that “New” is not an appropriate term from an antiracist perspective.
The answer key for this lesson is included in the Slides presentation as I find it helpful for students to go over each primary source together before moving onto the next one.