Place students into groups of 3-4, and instruct each group to write an original interview or panel discussion between Booker T. Washington, another of the historical figures listed below, and a student from today. Options for historical figures include:
- W.E.B. DuBois
- Anna Julia Cooper
- William Monroe Trotter
- Frederick Douglass
- Mary Church Terrell
- Ida B. Wells
- James Weldon Johnson
- Malcolm X
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Stokely Carmichael
Their interview should aim to showcase different perspectives about how to achieve racial justice, including their own perspectives as students of history. In order to create their interview, students should conduct scholarly research to deepen their understanding of Washington’s work and to learn more about the other historical figure they have selected for the interview. Consider mandating a specific number of scholarly and/or primary sources and in-text citations for the interview to ensure students are developing their research skills through this project.
Give students an option to write an interview transcript or create a live or recorded skit of the interview, and hold an expo for students to share their creations with the class.