S25-910 The Fight for America: The Often Unknown U.S. History of Oppression and Liberation

Instructor

Agenda & Learning Objectives

Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - Part 1 

Session 1: “Citizen” 

Key Themes 

• The origin and meaning of the 14th Amendment. 

• The concept of citizenship and its historical exclusions. 

• Early battles for racial equality post-Civil War. 

Learning Objectives 

1. Understand the historical context of the 14th Amendment's creation. 

2. Explore the concept of citizenship and its evolution. 

3. Reflect on the struggles of African Americans to achieve legal equality. 

Activities 

1. Historical Overview (15 minutes): Presentation on Reconstruction and the 14th Amendment. 

2. Documentary Clip Analysis (30 minutes): Focus on the Dred Scott decision and its implications. 

3. Discussion (20 minutes): "What does citizenship mean in a democracy?" 

4. Activity: Group timeline creation of key events leading to the 14th Amendment. 

Session 2: “Resistance” 

Key Themes 

• The backlash to Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow laws. 

• The resilience and resistance of Black Americans against systemic oppression. 

• The role of the 14th Amendment in challenging racial injustice. 

Learning Objectives 

1. Identify ways in which Reconstruction efforts were undermined. 

2. Examine the early resistance to racial oppression in America. 

3. Analyze the legal and societal impact of Jim Crow laws. 

Activities 

1. Story Mapping (30 minutes): Explore narratives of Black leaders (e.g., Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells). 

2. Group Debate (30 minutes): “How effective was the 14th Amendment during Reconstruction?” 

3. Reflection Exercise: Write about parallels between historical resistance and modern movements. 

Wednesday, June 11, 2025 - Part 2 

Session 3: “Wait” 

Key Themes 

• The Civil Rights Movement and the slow pace of progress. 

• Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from Birmingham Jail and the concept of “waiting” for justice. 

• The enduring fight for voting rights and desegregation. 

Learning Objectives 

1. Analyze the tension between incremental progress and urgent action in civil rights struggles. 

2. Explore key events like Brown v. Board of Education and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

3. Reflect on how the idea of “waiting” impacts marginalized communities today. 

Activities 

1. Primary Source Analysis (20 minutes): Read excerpts from King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” 

2. Role Play (30 minutes): Act out debates between activists advocating for immediate action vs. gradual progress. 

3. Creative Exercise: Create a visual representation of the phrase “Justice delayed is justice denied.” 

Session 4: “Control” 

Key Themes 

• Mass incarceration and systemic racism in the criminal justice system. 

• The war on drugs and its disproportionate impact on communities of color. 

• The intersection of the 14th Amendment and criminal justice reform. 

Learning Objectives 

1. Examine the historical roots of systemic racism in policing and incarceration. 

2. Understand how the 14th Amendment has been used to challenge discriminatory practices. 

3. Explore modern efforts to reform the criminal justice system. 

Activities 

1. Data Analysis (20 minutes): Examine statistics on incarceration rates by race. 

2. Documentary Clip Analysis (30 minutes): Focus on the rise of mass incarceration. 

3. Group Discussion: “How can we address systemic inequalities in the justice system?” 

4. Action Plan: Brainstorm reforms for local or national criminal justice systems. 

Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - Part 3 

Session 5: “Love” 

Key Themes 

• LGBTQ+ rights and the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. 

• Intersectionality in the fight for equality. 

• The evolving interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause. 

Learning Objectives 

1. Understand key legal milestones in LGBTQ+ rights. 

2. Analyze how the 14th Amendment has expanded protections for marginalized communities. 

3. Reflect on the social and personal impact of legal exclusion. 

Activities 

1. Historical Overview (20 minutes): Presentation on Obergefell v. Hodges and other landmark cases. 

2. Video Analysis (30 minutes): Focus on the journey toward marriage equality. 

3. Group Exercise: Create a collage or storyboard depicting the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. 

4. Discussion: “What role does love play in civil rights movements?” 

Session 6: “We The People” 

Key Themes 

• The evolving definition of “We the People.” 

• Intersectionality in civil rights movements. 

• Building a more inclusive future using lessons from history. 

Learning Objectives 

1. Reflect on the ongoing struggle for equality for all marginalized groups. 

2. Understand the importance of coalition-building across movements. 

3. Develop actionable ideas to promote equity and inclusion in participants’ communities. 

Activities 

1. Intersectionality Workshop (40 minutes): Explore case studies of movements like Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and immigrant rights. 

2. Video Analysis (20 minutes): Highlight coalition-building efforts from the documentary. 

3. Group Activity: Create a “Manifesto for Inclusivity,” outlining principles for a more equitable society. 

4. Action Planning (30 minutes): Participants develop and share plans to foster inclusivity in their spheres of influence. 

Additional Materials 

• Excerpts from landmark court cases. 

• Handouts summarizing key historical events and figures. 

• Resource lists for further reading, viewing, and advocacy tools. 

This curriculum provides a cohesive framework for engaging with the documentary’s themes while encouraging critical thinking, discussion, and action. 

Bibliography & References

BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES

Amend: The Fight for America. Created by Robe Imbriano and Tom Yellin, directed by Kenny Leon and Reinaldo Marcus Green, performances by Will Smith, Bryan Stevenson, Larry Wilmore, Samuel L. Jackson, Helen Hunt, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Laverne Cox, Mahershala Ali, Lena Waithe, Sherrilyn Ifill, Diane Lane, Pedro Pascal, and Yara Shahidi. Netflix, 2021.  

This six-part docuseries examines the history and significance of the 14th Amendment in shaping America's struggle with equality, featuring scholars, activists, and artists.  

Bunch, Lonnie G. “The Woman Who Took Down a Confederate Flag on What Came Next.” The New York Times, July 1, 2020.  

This article discusses Bree Newsome Bass’s activism and the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina, placing it in the broader context of racial justice and resistance.  

   King, Martin Luther, Jr. “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” The Atlantic Monthly, August 1963.  

Dr. King’s seminal work, which articulates the urgency of civil rights action and resistance to oppression, is referenced in Amend to underscore the persistent struggles for equality.  

Ifill, Sherrilyn. On the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the Twenty-First Century. Beacon Press, 2007.  

NAACP Legal Defense Fund President Sherrilyn Ifill is featured in the series and provides key insights on how the 14th Amendment has historically benefitted corporations more than marginalized people.  

Rustin, Bayard. “From Montgomery to Stonewall.” Down the Line: The Collected Writings of Bayard Rustin, edited by Devon W. Carbado and Donald Weise, Cleis Press, 2003.  

Rustin's activism, especially his pivotal role in civil rights and LGBTQ+ movements, is explored in the docuseries.  

Crenshaw, Kimberlé W. "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics." University of Chicago Legal Forum, vol. 1989, no. 1, 1989.  

Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality is an important framework in Amend, used to examine how multiple forms of discrimination intersect in the lives of marginalized groups.  

Murray, Pauli. Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family. Harper & Brothers, 1956.  

Pauli Murray's pioneering work in civil rights and gender equality, highlighted in Amend, showcases her groundbreaking legal strategies and personal activism.  

Stevenson, Bryan. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Spiegel & Grau, 2014.  

As one of the key figures in the series, Bryan Stevenson’s work on criminal justice reform and racial injustice is a central focus in Amend.  

Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Anti-Slavery Office, 1845.  

Excerpts from Douglass’s speeches and writings are dramatically presented in Amend, illustrating the power of resistance in the fight for equality.  

Lincoln, Abraham. “Gettysburg Address.” Delivered at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1863.  

Lincoln's famous speech is referenced in the series to contextualize the ideals of liberty and equality that the 14th Amendment sought to enshrine in law.  

United States Supreme Court. Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896).  

This landmark Supreme Court case, which upheld racial segregation, is explored in the series as a key legal obstacle to achieving the full promise of the 14th Amendment.  

United States Supreme Court. Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954).  

This historic case overturning segregation in public schools is discussed in Amend as part of the ongoing struggle to realize equal protection under the law.  

Course Completion & CE Information

Category I Maryland BSWE Requirement

The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University Of Maryland School Of Social Work is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education programs. This workshop qualifies for 6 Category I Continuing Education Units for anti-oppressive social work practices. The Office of Continuing Professional Education is also authorized by the Maryland Board of Psychologists and the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors to sponsor Category A continuing professional education.

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Target Audience

Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists

We welcome anyone interested in the topic!

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The base price is $150, which includes CE credit.  

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