October 25-31, 2021
Materials from "Planning to Change the World" an Education for Liberation Network publication @justiceplanbook @EdLibPlanBook www.edliberation.org
10/25
40th anniversary of swearing-in of Sandra Day O'Connor to Supreme Court. Sandra Day O'Connor was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the Supreme Court. Her appointment was unanimously approved by the Senate. Justice O'Connor was the first woman to serve on the highest court in the land. O'Connor, a conservative, had a record in which she sided with the other conservatives on the court in most cases, but mostly upheld women's rights to choose in the matter of abortion.
First: Sandra Day O'Connor, by Evan Thomas. A vivid and personal portrait of the life of Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. bit.ly/3cLpOMR
10/26
lntersex Awareness Day. lntersex Awareness Day is the international day of grassroots action to end shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children.
lnterACT, Advocates for lntersex. Youth. A rich bibliography of resources, from academic papers and news articles to human rights rulings and policy statements related to intersex awareness and advocacy. bit.ly/1 KUOkJN
lntersex Stories, Not Surgeries, by Pidgeon. A YouTube channel by non-binary, intersex youth, Pidgeon is a humorous and humanizing way to learn more about intersex experiences from their perspectives. bit.ly/2s2tcLq
20th anniversary of the Patriot Act. Under the guise of national security, the Patriot Act was passed just 45 days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was the first of many changes to surveillance laws, making it easier for the government to spy on American citizens by monitoring phone and electronic communications, collecting bank records, and tracking internet use. It also relaxed criteria for executing search warrants, violating Fourth Amendment protections.
Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties, a film by Nonny de la Pena. A 70-minute documentary tha!-investigates the ways in which the civil liberties of US citizens and immigrants have been rolled back since 9/11/2001 and the passage of the Patriot Act. (H) zinnedproject.org/ materials/unconstitutional
10/27
Nawal El Saadawi, Egyptian feminist writer, activist, physician, and psychiatrist, born (1931-2021). Nawal El Saadawi graduated from medical school and worked as a psychiatrist and university lecturer. She published nearly 50 plays, novels, and short story collections over her long and distinguished career. Her writings focus on the subject of women in Egypt, refusing to shy away from controversial issues such as prostitution, domestic violence, and religious fundamentalism. She founded the Arab Women's Solidarity Association and co-founded the Arab Association for Human Rights.
An Interview with Nawal El Saadawi: "Do you Feel You Are Liberated? I Feel I Am Not." by Rachel Cooke for The Guardian. Video clips from a rich interview with Egyptian revolutionary Nawal El Saadawi with relevance to the issues of today. bit.ly/3daNZ7 J
10/31
130th anniversary of the Coal Creek War. The Coal Creek War was a protracted labor battle between miners and mining companies to stop the practice of convict leasing -bringing in primarily Black prisoners to replace White laborers in an effort to undermine labor organizing. On October 31, 1891, about 1,000 armed miners took control of the mine, set the convicts free, and burned down the stockades where the convicts were being kept. Eventually, convict leasing was outlawed.
Slavery by Another Name, directed by Sam Pollard. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Douglas A. Blackman's Slavery by Another Name, this 90-minute documentary challenges the view that slavery ended with the 13th Amendment in 1865. The PBS site includes video clips and links to other useful resources. to.pbs.org/ zZnn6p
120th anniversary of Silas Esters' lynching. Silas Esters, a Black man awaiting trial on a charge of coercion, was kidnapped by a mob of White men from LaRue County Jail in Hodgenville, KY. The police officers handed over their keys to the mob, but Esters slipped free and ran 100 yards before he was shot dead. His corpse was hung at the courthouse, and nobody was charged with a crime following his murder.
The Legacy Museum and Curriculum. Opened in 2018, the Legacy Museum memorializes the enslavement of African Americans, the evolution of racial terror lynching, legalized racial segregation, and racial hierarchy in America. This museum explores the history of racial inequality and its relationship to a range of contemporary issues from mass incarceration to police violence. The 2nd link is to the museum's curriculum on the "Legacy of Lynching." bit.ly/3rP2I2t; bit.ly/3IgrQrd
El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), begins on 10/31 and ends on 11/2. El Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday during which ancient Aztec rituals honoring the dead are performed. The rituals have been practiced for at least 3,000 years.
Pablo Remembers, by George Ancona. This photodocumentary-style children's book follows Pablo and his family as they celebrate Dia de Los Muertos by honoring his grandmother. bit.ly/2LH9zBu
Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras, by Duncan Tonatiuh. Funny Bones tells the story of how the amusing calaveras -skeletons performing various everyday or festive activities-came to be. They are the creation of Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe (Lupe)Posada (1852-1913). In a country that was not known for freedom of speech, he first drew political cartoons, much to the amusement of the local population but not the politicians. bit.ly/2FKOXak
Halloween
What Do Halloween Costumes Say? by Learning for Justice. This lesson, adaptable across grades, can help students think critically about ways Halloween costumes are marketed and how certain costumes perpetuate stereotypes. For school Hallowes celebrations, the activity can be used to develop guidelines for acceptable costumes. bit.ly/3mQOVBD