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I鈥檒l never forget a student鈥檚 response when I asked during a middle school social studies class what they knew about Black history: 鈥淢artin Luther King freed the slaves.鈥�

Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929, more than six decades after the time of enslavement. To me, this comment underscored how closely Americans associate Black history with slavery.

While shocked, I knew this mistaken belief reflected the lack of time, depth, and breadth schools devote to . Most students get limited information and context about what African Americans have experienced since our ancestors arrived here . Without independent study, most adults aren鈥檛 up to speed either.

For instance, what do you know about ?

I鈥檓 excited about new resources for teaching children, and everyone else, more about the history of slavery through The New York Times鈥� 鈥�.鈥� But based on my experience teaching social studies and my current work , I also consider understanding what happened during the Reconstruction essential for exploring Black power, resilience and excellence. 

During that complex period after the Civil War, African Americans gained political power yet faced the backlash of white supremacy and racial violence. I share the concerns many  about the about Reconstruction in school. Here are  for educators and others interested in  about that .

Reconstruction amendments

As most students do learn, the U.S. gained three constitutional amendments that extended civil and political rights to newly freed African Americans after the Civil War.

The , ratified in 1865, banned slavery and involuntary servitude except for the punishment of a crime.

The , ratified three years later, granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all people born in the United States, as well as naturalized citizens鈥攊ncluding all previously enslaved individuals.

Then, the  asserted that neither the federal government nor state governments could deny voting rights to any male citizen.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment on . The anniversary is a good opportunity to learn about how the amendment was supposed to guarantee that the right to vote could not be denied based on 鈥渞ace, color, or previous condition of servitude.鈥�

African American politicians

What few history and social studies classes explore is how these changes to the Constitution made it possible for African American men to use their newfound political power to gain representation.

, the first African American senator, represented Mississippi in 1870 after . He was among the  from seven Southern states who served in Congress during Reconstruction.

Revels and his colleagues were only part of the story. , about  at some level of government during Reconstruction.

White supremacist groups such as the  also formed after the Civil War. These terrorist groups engaged in violence and other racist tactics to intimidate African Americans, people of color, Black voters, and legislators. They thus made the accomplishments of African American politicians even more impressive as they served as public officials under the constant threat of racial violence.

Black activist women

African American women technically gained the right to vote in 1920, when the  passed. However, their constitutional right was limited in many states because of .

Many  were activists and women鈥檚 suffrage movement leaders. Through public speaking, prolific writing, and developing organizations dedicated to racial and and gender equality, they fought for equal rights and dignity for all.

Among the Black women who were activists during Reconstruction were  of South Carolina, who fought for female voting rights; , an outspoken abolitionist before the Civil War and suffragist once it ended; and , the first Black woman in North America to edit and publish a newspaper, one of the first Black female lawyers in the country, and an advocate for granting women the right to vote.

Other women of color who played key roles in the suffrage movement included , the journalist and civil rights advocate who raised awareness of lynching, and , founder of the National Association of Colored Women.

Higher education

Before the Civil War, many states made  a crime. Education quickly became a top priority for Black Americans once slavery ended. 

While Northern, largely White  and the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, better known as the , did help create new educational opportunities, the African American public schools established after the Civil War ended were largely  by the Black community.

Many new institutions of higher education, now called  or HBCUs, began to operate during Reconstruction.

 trained Black people to become teachers and ministers, doctors and nurses. They also prepared African Americans for careers in industrial and agricultural fields.

Public and private HBCUs founded during Reconstruction and still operating today include  in Washington, D.C.,  in Virginia, ,  in Georgia, and  in Maryland.   a  and other professionals even today.

Historical experiences

Storytelling, multimedia experiences, and trips to historic sites and creative museums help get people of any age interested in learning about history. 

Depending on where you live, you may want to embark on a family outing or school field trip.

The  in Philadelphia has a new permanent exhibit on the Civil War and Reconstruction.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in Washington, D.C., in 2016, contains artifacts from the Reconstruction era. It鈥檚 also making the records of the , including the names of formerly enslaved individuals after the Civil War, available online.

Another option is the  in Beaufort County, South Carolina. 

Play

I also recommend watching the PBS  by the scholar and filmmaker  and reading the  Gates co-authored with children鈥檚 nonfiction writer  about the era. Gates has also compiled a  for adults.

In addition, the organization  curates a  on Reconstruction for middle and high school students. And the   offers a variety of resources including readings, primary sources, and even lesson plans.

An incomplete transition

As the renowned Black scholar  observed,  in many states actively limited Black freedom. 

鈥淭he slave went free; stood for a brief moment in the sun; then moved back again toward slavery,鈥� he explained.

This was by no means voluntary. Intimidated and threatened by Black enfranchisement and excellence in the era of Reconstruction, white supremacists attempted to enforce subordination through violence, such as ; and in systemic ways through . African Americans continued to assert their civil and constitutional rights as activists, politicians, business owners, teachers, and farmers amid white supremacist backlash. 

With the latest聽聽efforts restricting access to the ballot box for voters of color and the resurgence of聽聽today, DuBois鈥� words sound eerily familiar. At the same time it鈥檚 reassuring to recall how quickly formerly enslaved African Americans made their way to schoolhouses and public offices.

This article was originally published by . It has been published here with permission.