Arts and Culture

Lesson Plan

How do we remember and honor the contributions of women in public space?

The objective of this lesson is to help students thinking critically about public history and the decision-making that goes into designing and advocating for public memorials to commemorate women in American history.

Exhibit

Feminismo: La Segunda Ola

Al igual que la primera ola, que se desarrolló durante un período de reformas sociales, la segunda ola también tuvo lugar en medio de otros movimientos sociales y políticos.

Biography

Agnes de Mille

Agnes de Mille was one of the preeminent American choreographers of the twentieth century.

Biography

Beverly Cleary

Beverly Cleary created some of the most beloved children’s book characters of the 20th century.

Biography

Cicely Tyson

Cecily Tyson dedicated her career to portraying resilient African American women on the stage and the screen.

Biography

Edmonia Lewis

Edmonia “Wildfire” Lewis is considered the first professional BIPOC sculptor in the United States and the first to achieve international acclaim.

Biography

Octavia Estelle Butler

Octavia Butler was a pioneering writer of science fiction. As one of the first African American and female science fiction writers, Butler wrote novels that concerned themes of injustice towards African Americans, global warming, and women's rights.

Exhibit

Feminismo: La Primera Ola

Durante generaciones, el movimiento feminista ha avanzado notablemente en la defensa de los derechos de las mujeres.

Lesson Plan

The Legacy of Zora Neale Hurston

Examine Zora Neale Hurston’s lifelong commitment to African American literature and cultural preservation.

Biography

Selma Burke

Selma Burke discovered her love for sculpture as a young child and followed her passion to Harlem Renaissance New York, Parisian art studios, and even the White House.

Biography

Suzan-Lori Parks

Though a high school teacher discouraged her from writing because of her poor spelling, Suzan-Lori Parks went on to become one of the most successful playwrights in the United States.

Biography

Anne Spencer

Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer lived her entire life in Virginia, where she tended her garden, worked as a librarian and teacher, hosted luminaries of Black intellectual and cultural life, and fought for equal rights for African Americans.

Biography

Gertrude “Ma” Rainey

Often called the “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey was known for her deep-throated voice and mesmerizing stage presence that drew packed audiences and sold hit records in the early twentieth century.

Biography

Hazel Scott

Jazz pianist and singer Hazel Scott was not only the first African-American woman to host her own television show, but she also bravely stood up to the House Un-American Activities Committee and the Hollywood studio machine.

Biography

Betsy Wade

As the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the New York Times in 1974, Wade transformed the industry and newsrooms across the nation.

Lesson Plan

Feminist Philosophers of the 20th Century

Students will explore the life and core philosophic contributions of three female philosophers: Simone De Beauvoir, Hannah Arendt, and Judith Butler. Students will grapple with the core questions and feminist-theoretical perspectives of each philosopher.

Video