Introduce the concept of “continuity and change” to students, explaining that part of studying history is understanding how things both continue and change over time, and that change is often a consequence of human intervention and civic participation. Illustrate this by modeling a Think Aloud strategy, using newspapers as an example. For instance, explain that newspapers continue to be a vital part of informing the public but since the Internet was invented newspapers have changed by publishing online, rather than only in print. 

Explain to the class that while questions regarding racial equality have continued throughout the history of the United States they have also changed, especially as the legal status of Black people changed following emancipation and the expansion of citizenship rights after the Civil War.

Have the class work in small groups to read three different articles written in 1827, 1945, and 1999, each of which raises questions about education and its role in advancing racial justice, in order to answer the following research questions:

• What about the issue of education continued over time in the African American fight for racial equality?
• What about the issue of education changed over time in the African American fight for racial equality?

Distribute “African Free Schools in the United States,” Freedom’s Journal, June 1, 1827,  “What We Want in Education,” The Informer and Texas Freeman (Houston), October 27, 1945, and “The Urban Agenda: Racism Creates Bad Schools,” New York Amsterdam News, February 3, 1999 to each student. In small groups, have students approach each article using the Reading With a Pen Graphic Organizer, focusing on the above research questions and discussing their findings as they go.

After students have read each of the three articles, filled in their Graphic Organizer, and discussed their findings as a group, provide them with individual or group research time to identify and analyze an article from a contemporary writer that discusses similar issues regarding education and its role in advancing racial justice today. If done as a group, students should produce and deliver a presentation that answers the research questions, referencing at least two of the historical primary sources as well as the contemporary article. If done individually, students should write a short essay, again citing at least two of the historical primary sources as well as the contemporary article.