African and Free ­Maroon Resistance in the Americas

Sample Lesson
Written By Kelsey Greene

Analyze videos produced by and about people of the African diaspora in the Americas for messages about representations of their peoples' freedom, resistance, and ties to Africa.

Grade Levels

Middle School ○ High School ○ College / Adult

Objectives

  • Students will integrate information from diverse sources into a coherent understanding of maroon survival and resistance. 

  • Students will identify evidence in a visual document that indicate the perspective, intent, and views of the author. 

  • Students will determine who might benefit and who might be harmed by a media message. 

  • Students will determine how different people might interpret the same media message in different ways.  

Media Included

Guiding Questions

Social Studies 

  • According to this video, how have African descended people resisted attacks on their lands and cultures? 

  • What forms of African-centered cultural expression are shown in this video? 

  • In what ways, do the unique environmental characteristics of this place impact people’s beliefs and actions? 

ELA

  • According to this video, what social, political and economic forces have African-descended people fought against in the past and present? 

  • Whose voices are included and whose are left out? 

  • What questions do you have about this? 

Media Literacy 

  • Who might benefit from this message and who might be harmed by it? 

  • Is this a trustworthy source about this particular topic? 

  • What do you learn about yourself from your interpretation or reaction?

*This lesson was created in collaboration with Project Look Sharp.

Kelsey Greene
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Indigenous Media Making: Affirming Identity
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Indigenous Representations of Cultural Pride and Resilience