Pauli Murray's America Unit 4
Learning Objectives:
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Students recall the social and political history of Roosevelt’s New Deal
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Students discover Pauli Murray’s efforts for the Works Progress Administration in New York City
Key Civics Themes:
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Foundations of United States Government: Explore Murray’s connections to New Deal programs such as the WPA, and the program’s impact on American society during the Depression.
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Rights and Responsibilities: Investigate the responsibilities of governments to protect and provide for their citizens, and the rights of individuals to peacefully protest unjust policies and laws
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Role of the Individual: Using Murray’s letter-writing as an example, discuss the ways that individuals can advocate for change and unite others in a cause
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Power and Politics: Investigate the New Deal and its programs: who was helped by these programs? Who was left out?
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Active Engagement: Connect Murray’s activism to contemporary opportunities for activism. How might students use their writing to effect change?
Activities:
Reflection and/or Discussion Prompts:
How was “prosperity” understood at that time? Is prosperity understood differently today?
Was the New Deal a success? What are the indicators of success?
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Introduce Pauli Murray’s work with the WPA in NYC with the Letter from Pauli Murray to President Roosevelt, December 6, 1938; pages 26-28 of The Firebrand and the First Lady:
Reflection and/or Discussion Prompts:
How does Pauli Murray explain why they applied to the University of North Carolina despite the institution’s admittance policy?
What does “enlightened” mean? How has this course, thus far, enlightened you?
Where do you see the connections between Pauli Murray’s critique of American democracy and today’s world?
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Writing Prompt: What does Pauli Murray mean with the following quote: “One person plus one typewriter constitutes a movement.”
