In preparation for a Gallery Walk, place the following documents on posters around the room. 

• Excerpts from of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Titles VI and VII 
• Excerpts from President Johnson’s Commencement Address at Howard University, June 4, 1965
• Statement by President Nixon on Minority Business Enterprise, March 5, 1969

Have students walk around the room three times, visiting every poster with each round. For each round, the students should consider just one of the following questions, and respond in writing on the poster.

• Round 1: What is the main idea of this document?
• Round 2: What is your response to the main idea in the document? Do you agree or disagree, and why?
• Round 3: Make a connection between the document and you, another text, or to a current event.

Assign 3-4 students to each poster, and have them read through all the comments on their assigned poster and report out to the class. They should share the main idea of the document and at least one student comment that resonated with the group.

Have students write a paragraph in response to the following question:

• What was the rationale and justification for affirmative action programs in the 1960s and 1970s? Use evidence from the documents in your response.