He’s loud, he’s obnoxious and, in a very short time, he’s broken unprecedented ground with his smash-face, turn-it-to-11 approach to the vice presidency. Unlike most White House understudies, who effectively disappear like a protected witness, Vance has become the highest-profile, most pugnacious politician in America who is not named Donald J. Trump.
It’s quite the contrast with his predecessor.
Kamala Harris made her own kind of history, as the first woman, first Black person and first Asian American to serve as vice president. As such, she entered office bearing great — and vastly unrealistic — expectations about her prominence and the public role she would play in the Biden administration. When Harris acted the way that vice presidents normally do — subservient, self-effacing, careful never to poach the spotlight from the chief executive — it was seen as a failing.
Why is that? Because that’s how President Trump wants it.
“Rule No.1 about the vice presidency is that vice presidents are only as active as their presidents want them to be,” said Jody Baumgartner, an East Carolina University expert on the office. “They themselves are irrelevant.”
Consider Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who had the presence and pizzazz of day-old mashed potatoes.
“He was not a very powerful vice president, but that’s because Donald Trump didn’t want him to be,” said Christopher Devine, a University of Dayton professor who’s published four books on the vice presidency. “He wanted him to have very little influence and to be more of a background figure, to kind of reassure quietly the conservatives of the party that Trump was on the right track. With JD Vance, I think he wants him to be a very active, visible figure.”
There were other circumstances that kept Harris under wraps, particularly in the early part of Biden’s presidency.
One was the COVID-19 lockdown. “It meant she wasn’t traveling. She wasn’t doing public events,” said Joel K. Goldstein, another author and expert on the vice presidency. “A lot of stuff was being done virtually and so that tended to be constraining.”
The Democrats’ narrow control of the Senate also required Harris to stick close to Washington so she could cast a number of tie-breaking votes. (Under the Constitution, the vice president provides the deciding vote when the Senate is equally divided. Harris set a record in the third year of her vice presidency for casting the most tie-breakers in history.)
The personality of their bosses also explains why Harris and Vance approached the vice presidency in different ways.
Biden had spent nearly half a century in Washington, as a senator and vice president under Barack Obama. He was, foremost, a creature of the legislative process and saw Harris, who’d served nearly two decades in elected office, as a (junior) partner in governing.
Ohio’s senator had served barely 18 months in his one and only political position when Trump chose Vance as his running mate. He’d “really made his mark as a media and cultural figure,” Devine noted, with Vance’s memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” regarded as a kind of Rosetta Stone for the anger and resentment that fueled the MAGA movement.
Trump “wanted someone who was going to be aggressive in advancing the MAGA narrative,” Devine said, “being very present in media, including in some newer media spaces, on podcasts, social media. Vance was someone who could hammer home Trump’s message every day.”
The contrast continued once Harris and Vance took office.
Trump has treated Vance as a sort of heat-seeking rhetorical missile, turning him loose against his critics and acting as though the presidential campaign never ended.
Vance seems gladly submissive. Harris, who was her own boss for nearly two decades, had a hard time adjusting as Biden’s No. 2.
“Vance is very effective at playing the role of backup singer who gets to have a solo from time to time,” said Jamal Simmons, who spent a year as Harris’ vice presidential communications chief. “I don’t think Kamala Harris was ever as comfortable in the role as Vance has proven himself to be.”
Will Vance’s pugilistic approach pay off in 2028? It’s way too soon to say. Turning the conventions of the vice presidency to a shambles, the way Trump did with the presidency, has delighted many in the Republican base. But polls show Vance, like Trump, is deeply unpopular with a great number of voters.
As for Harris, all she can do is look on from her exile in Brentwood, pondering what might have been.
But it wasn’t Guiteau’s bullet that ultimately killed Garfield, rather a far more preventable medical condition: sepsis. Garfield was taken to the White House where his wound was repeatedly reopened as doctors, led by Doctor Willard Bliss, tried to remove the bullet from his back. He survived for 11 weeks, but his condition worsened. By the end, Garfield was having consistent hallucinations and was given nutrient enemas because he was no longer able to digest food. As portrayed on Death by Lightning, Alexander Graham Bell, credited with patenting the first working telephone, did drop by the White House to try and find the lodged bullet with a metal detector he invented, but it malfunctioned in part because Garfield was lying on a metal bed frame, and because Dr. Bliss only allowed to check Garfield’s right side.
Garfield died on Monday, September 19, 1881, in Long Branch, New Jersey. Many physicians believe that Garfield would have survived the surgery had proper modern sterilization measures been taken, which were already being used in Europe at the time. “It was the most horrific death you can imagine,” wrote Millard in Destiny of the Republic. “He was riddled with infection and, when they did the autopsy, there were huge gouges. The fingers had created these burrowing holes through him and they were filled with pus and infection. He lost so much weight and was horribly dehydrated. He almost certainly would have survived had it not been for his doctors.”
Guiteau’s end was no more merciful. He went on trial in November 1881, represented by his brother in law, George Scoville, and garnered attention for his bizarre behavior—insulting his defense attorney, and claiming that he was innocent because God demanded that he assassinate the president. According to Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, Guiteau’s trial was one of the first major trials to seriously consider the innocent by reasons of insanity defense. Ultimately, Guiteau was convicted on January 25, 1882, and sentenced to death by hanging. Guiteau stubbed his toe on the way up to the gallows on June 30, 1882, two days before the anniversary of the shooting. He then recited a musical poem he wrote, “I Am Going to the Lordy,” (further musicalized in Stephen Sondheim’s musical Assassins) before dropping to his death.
“Assassination can no more be guarded against than death by lightning,” Shannon says as Garfield in the film. While it sounds eerily prescient, Garfield did actually write that very sentiment in a November 1880 letter, unaware of the fate that would befall him only months later. But at least he wasn’t living his life in fear of the outcome: “And it is not best to worry about either,” he added.
ATLANTA, November 7, 2025 (Newswire.com)
– The National Center for Civil and Human Rights has reopened following a $57.9 million expansion that fulfills the vision of its founders and strengthens its role as a national destination for education, reflection, and action.
Leaders and supporters gathered on Nov. 4 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Arthur M. Blank, former Mayor Shirley Clarke Franklin, Mayor Andre Dickens, Board Chair Egbert Perry, Co-Chair AJ Robinson, CEO Jill Savitt, and Juneau Construction CEO Nancy Juneau.
The reopening marks a defining moment for the Center, expanding its footprint by 24,000 square feet – to 65,000 square feet – and transforming how visitors experience the ongoing story of courage and human rights in America and around the world. Two new wings, six new galleries, three classrooms, and interactive experiences.
The expansion also doubles the Center’s event-space capacity, with areas for classrooms, community gatherings, conferences, performances, and celebrations. The Franklin Pavilion’s roof terrace offers skyline views – a symbolic reminder of the city’s place at the heart of the civil rights movement.
“Our reopening arrives at a time when understanding our shared history feels more urgent than ever,” said Jill Savitt, president and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. “This Center was built to show how history speaks to the present. These new galleries allow people to experience both the courage of those who came before us and the call to continue their work today.”
Champions of the Center Reflect on Its Reopening
Arthur M. Blank, Chairman, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
“I’ve always believed in the Center’s mission, in the lessons it teaches and the hope it inspires,” said Arthur M. Blank, owner and Chairman, Blank Family of Businesses. “Being part of this expansion is an honor for myself, my family and our Family Foundation, and we look forward to seeing the extraordinary work that will continue to shape our community and our future.”
Shirley Clarke Franklin, Former Mayor of Atlanta and Founding Visionary of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
“When we originally opened the Center, we wanted history to live in the present. Seeing it reopen even stronger reminds me that Atlanta’s commitment to truth and justice continues to guide and inspire the world.”
Andre Dickens, Mayor of Atlanta
“Today’s ribbon cutting exemplifies progress and peace. The City of Atlanta was happy to support this expansion with $10 million, in partnership with Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority. This expansion was a group project in every sense of the phrase and has made Atlanta proud,”
The expansion honors two visionary Atlantans whose leadership made the Center possible. The Shirley Clarke Franklin Pavilion adds flexible classrooms, event space, and rooftop views of the city, while the Arthur M. Blank Inspiration Hall houses three new galleries, a café, and a museum store.
The Center’s updated and expanded galleries bring history to life in powerful new ways:
Rolls Down Like Water: The American Civil Rights Movement – The Center’s signature gallery returns with new storytelling and updates that enhance one of the most powerful visitor experiences: the Lunch Counter simulation, where guests take a seat at the counter and experience the courage of protestors who faced hatred with calm resolve.
A Committed Life: The Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection – This reimagined gallery features a rotating selection of Dr. King’s personal papers and writings. Visitors encounter Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as never before – as a man, a father, a pastor, and a leader whose humanity deepened his moral vision. In a new tradition, the Center will feature a guest curator for each rotation. The inaugural guest curator is Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, the youngest child of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King.
Everyone. Everywhere. The Global Human Rights Movement – Highlights defenders and activists around the world and includes A Mile in My Shoes, an immersive installation where guests walk in others’ stories, encouraging empathy and connection.
Action Lab – A hands-on space where visitors design personal civic engagement plans and find practical ways to make a difference in their own communities.
Special Exhibitions Gallery – For the first time, the Center will have a gallery for temporary exhibitions, beginning with Reclaiming History: Selections from the Tinwood Foundation, featuring Southern Black artists whose work confronts injustice and celebrates resilience.
Broken Promises: The Legacy of the Reconstruction Era – Opening on Dec. 5, this gallery explores a chapter of U.S. history that provides critical context for the Civil Rights Movement. This gallery includes artifacts from the Without Sanctuary collection and a memorial space featuring the marker for Mary Turner’s lynching with an interpretation by artist Lonnie Holley.
The reopening comes amid a national conversation about how history is told in museums. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights remains privately funded and steadfast in its mission to share a more complete and accurate story of civil rights history, human rights challenges today
On Nov. 8, the Center will host a Community Celebration inviting visitors of all ages to experience the new museum. The event will feature a live radio broadcast by V-103 with Big Tigger, music, kids’ activities, giveaways, and special guests. With admission, visitors can explore the new galleries through free tours. Guests are encouraged to reserve tickets early at civilandhumanrights.org.
About the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a museum and cultural organization that inspires the changemaker in each of us. Opened in 2014, the Center connects U.S. civil rights history to global human rights movements today. Our experiences highlight people who have worked to protect rights and who model how individuals create positive change. For more information, visit civilandhumanrights.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @civilandhumanrights and LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncchr.
Source: National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The government shutdown has reached its 36th day, the longest in U.S. history, as President Donald Trump pressures Republicans to end the Senate filibuster in order to reopen the government.”It’s time for Republicans to do what they have to do, and that’s terminate the filibuster. It’s the only way you can do it,” Trump told senators Wednesday at the White House.The filibuster is a Senate rule that requires 60 votes to advance most legislation. Ending the filibuster would allow Republicans to pass a bill with a simple majority, but several Republicans warn that when Democrats are in power, they’d be able to do the same thing. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said after breakfast at the White House, “It’s just not happening.”The president also said the shutdown was a “big factor, negative” in Tuesday’s election results.”Countless public servants are now not being paid and the air traffic control system is under increasing strain. We must get the government back open soon and really immediately,” Trump said.The shutdown is hitting home for many Americans, with lines stretching at food banks across the country as SNAP benefits are delayed and reduced for more than 40 million Americans. After-school programs that depend on federal dollars are closing. The Transportation Secretary said, starting Friday, there will be a 10% reduction in flights at 40 airports across the country.Republicans have pushed to reopen the government with a short-term spending bill. Democrats have rejected those bills, arguing that Republicans are leaving out a key provision: restoring expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies that help millions of Americans lower their health-insurance costs. Democrats say passing a short-term bill without those subsidies would leave families facing sudden premium spikes.”The election results ought to send a much needed bolt of lightning to Donald Trump that he should meet with us to end this crisis,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York. “The American people have spoken last night. End the shutdown, end the healthcare crisis, sit down and talk with us.”Republicans have said they’re willing to negotiate ACA subsidies, but only after the shutdown is over.See more government shutdown coverage from the Washington News Bureau:
WASHINGTON —
The government shutdown has reached its 36th day, the longest in U.S. history, as President Donald Trump pressures Republicans to end the Senate filibuster in order to reopen the government.
The filibuster is a Senate rule that requires 60 votes to advance most legislation. Ending the filibuster would allow Republicans to pass a bill with a simple majority, but several Republicans warn that when Democrats are in power, they’d be able to do the same thing.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said after breakfast at the White House, “It’s just not happening.”
“Countless public servants are now not being paid and the air traffic control system is under increasing strain. We must get the government back open soon and really immediately,” Trump said.
The shutdown is hitting home for many Americans, with lines stretching at food banks across the country as SNAP benefits are delayed and reduced for more than 40 million Americans. After-school programs that depend on federal dollars are closing.
Republicans have pushed to reopen the government with a short-term spending bill. Democrats have rejected those bills, arguing that Republicans are leaving out a key provision: restoring expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies that help millions of Americans lower their health-insurance costs. Democrats say passing a short-term bill without those subsidies would leave families facing sudden premium spikes.
“The election results ought to send a much needed bolt of lightning to Donald Trump that he should meet with us to end this crisis,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York. “The American people have spoken last night. End the shutdown, end the healthcare crisis, sit down and talk with us.”
Republicans have said they’re willing to negotiate ACA subsidies, but only after the shutdown is over.
See more government shutdown coverage from the Washington News Bureau:
Kim Yong Nam, the longtime No. 2 in North Korea’s leadership hierarchy who died this week at 97, was a rare survivor in the cutthroat world of Pyongyang politics.
The chairman of the Presidium of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) for decades, Kim enjoyed an exceptionally long and steady career despite likely suspicions around his place of birth and time spent abroad.
Kim Yong Nam, the longtime No. 2 in North Korea’s leadership hierarchy who died this week at 97, was a rare survivor in the cutthroat world of Pyongyang politics.
The chairman of the Presidium of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) for decades, Kim enjoyed an exceptionally long and steady career despite likely suspicions around his place of birth and time spent abroad.
Before the gleaming 747s that now ferry U.S. presidents across oceans, there was a smaller, sleeker jet that carried the weight of the free world.
The last Boeing 707 to serve as a primary Air Force One — the aircraft that once flew President Ronald Reagan, plus six other American presidents — now sits under a striking glass pavilion at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
“This was the last 707 that was used as a primary aircraft as Air Force One,” said David Trulio, president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. “Subsequent to President Reagan, it was a 747.”
Reagan flew the 707, tail number SAM 27000, more than any other president, and it remained in the presidential fleet until it was decommissioned in 2001, taking its last flight just three days before the Sept. 11 attacks.
During his presidency, however, Reagan ordered the modernization of Air Force One to the larger, more advanced 747s as the primary aircraft.
President Ronald Reagan traveled aboard SAM 27000 more than any other U.S. president.(Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute)
The transition from the 707-based VC-137s to the 747 fleet took place in 1990, according to the U.S. Air Force, a year after Reagan’s term ended, and expanded the aircraft’s range, communications capabilities and comfort.
Ironically, Reagan himself never flew aboard the newer jets he had commissioned, Trulio said.
Yet he traveled to 26 countries, covering 660,000 miles aboard SAM 27000 — a jet that held roughly half as many passengers as today’s Air Force One, which can accommodate about 102 people, according to Boeing.
The 707 also shuttled Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
President Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan wave aboard Air Force One in 1986.(Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute)
When the Reagan Library learned the plane was going to be decommissioned, it sought to honor the 40th president’s wish to have it placed permanently in the space where he would later be laid to rest.
Boeing, the plane’s manufacturer, collaborated with the Reagan Library to transport and reassemble the aircraft. The 707 was disassembled and towed to the library site. As the pavilion was constructed, each piece was brought inside and rebuilt within the building itself.
This year, the Air Force One Pavilion celebrated its 20th anniversary. Since opening to the public in October 2005, nearly seven million visitors have stepped aboard Air Force One 27000.
The three-story pavilion also features a Marine One helicopter, Reagan’s 1984 presidential limousine and an authentic Irish pub from his ancestral village of Ballyporeen, Ireland. A sweeping mural, “History of the Flying White House,” traces presidential air travel from its beginnings with FDR to the present day.
The Air Force One Pavilion opened to the public in October 2005.
Over the past two decades, the pavilion has been used for everything from educational programs and international summits to presidential and even high school debates.
The Reagan Library’s digital reach has grown tremendously, Trulio said, now topping 1.8 million followers across platforms as it expands access to its exhibits and events for audiences worldwide.
The plane is the top attraction for visitors to the Reagan Library.
When visitors enter and see the massive aircraft, slightly tilted to give the illusion of takeoff and framed by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Simi Valley hills, their first reaction is to gasp, Trulio said.
“It’s a really remarkable, very living piece of history,” he told Fox News Digital. “Any one of our visitors can come and buy a ticket and actually go onto the plane and see exactly where the president, his staff, the press corps, the Secret Service and so on used it as a working, flying office.”
The plane is the top attraction for visitors to the Reagan Library, Trulio noted.
The Air Force One Pavilion includes Reagan’s limousine and a Marine One helicopter.(Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute)
It looks the same as it did 20 years ago, he added. While it was once state of the art, its rotary phones and mid-century decor are a blast from the past for visitors today.
Unlike modern planes, Reagan’s was not the “cushiest,” he added. “There’s a conference room, there are perfectly comfortable chairs — but the current Air Force One has bedrooms. This one doesn’t.”
Still, it was a vehicle of face-to-face diplomacy, helping to shape global history and continuing to teach lessons that resonate today.
After his first meeting with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Geneva during the Cold War, for example, Reagan remarked, “So, face-to-face talks can be helpful.”
Trulio said there are “tremendous parallels” between Reagan’s era and today.
President Reagan putts a golf ball aboard Air Force One in 1985.(Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute)
“History, it’s been said, rhymes. And if you think of the ‘70s going into the ’80s, that was a period of economic challenge, high inflation, we were competing with a communist regime with global ambitions, and there was a sense that maybe America’s best days were behind us,” he said.
“President Reagan was an unquestionably successful president,” he continued. “It’s inspiring but also deeply instructive to draw on those successes as we ponder the challenges and the opportunities that we face today.”
Deirdre Bardolf is a lifestyle writer with Fox News Digital.
Today is Friday, Oct. 31, the 304th day of 2025. There are 61 days left in the year. This is Halloween.
Today in history:
On Oct. 31, 1913, the Lincoln Highway, the first automobile highway across the United States, was dedicated.
Also on this date:
In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation making Nevada the 36th state, eight days before the presidential election.
In 1941, work was completed on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, begun in 1927.
In 1950, Earl Lloyd of the Washington Capitols became the first African-American to play in an NBA game; Lloyd would go on to play for nine seasons, winning an NBA championship in 1955 with the Syracuse Nationals.
In 1961, the body of Josef Stalin was removed from Lenin’s Tomb as part of the Soviet Union’s “de-Stalinization” drive.
In 1984, Indira Gandhi, India’s Prime Minister for more than 15 years, was assassinated by two of her own security guards.
In 1999, EgyptAir Flight 990, bound from New York to Cairo, crashed off the Massachusetts coast, killing all 217 people aboard.
In 2005, President George W. Bush nominated Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.
In 2011, the United Nations estimated that world population had reached seven billion people (world population is greater than eight billion today).
Today’s Birthdays: Former CBS anchorman Dan Rather is 94. Actor Stephen Rea is 79. Olympic gold medal marathoner Frank Shorter is 78. TV host Jane Pauley is 75. Football coach Nick Saban is 74. Film director Peter Jackson is 64. Rock drummer Larry Mullen Jr. (U2) is 64. Rock musician Johnny Marr is 62. Baseball Hall of Famer Fred McGriff is 62. Actor Rob Schneider is 62. Actor Dermot Mulroney is 62. Country singer Darryl Worley is 61. Actor-comedian Mike O’Malley is 59. Rapper and guitarist Adam Horovitz (Beastie Boys) is 59. Rapper Vanilla Ice is 58. Actor Leticia Wright is 32. Singer Willow Smith is 25.
Despite what you’ve heard, America’s most famous murderess was actually found innocent in a court of law. In 1893, after deliberating for over an hour, the (all-male, white, protestant) jury unanimously decided that 32-year-old spinster and Sunday school teacher Lizzie Borden didn’t actually take an axe and give her parents 40 whacks. By their reasoning, someone else must have. But who?
Nobody knows for sure, and we probably never will. Still, more than a century’s worth of authors, historians, researchers, citizen sleuths, tabloid papers and nosy neighbors have examined no shortage of suspects who, if not Lizzie, may have actually committed the dirty deed: the brazen daytime double murder of 69-year-old Andrew Borden, one of the richest businessmen in Fall River, Massachusetts, and his 64-year-old second wife, Abby Borden. Since no will stating otherwise was ever found, should Andrew predecease his wife, she was set to inherit his fortune, while two spinster daughters would inherit nothing.
At 11:10 a.m. on a hot August Thursday in 1892, Lizzie Borden “discovered” her still-warm father, who had been bludgeoned to death (after 10 or 11 whacks, technically) on a settee in the sitting room. She called for help from their Irish maid, who in turn summoned the town doctor from across the street. Upstairs in the guest room, Abby’s colder body was found face down. She had been dead approximately an hour and a half before her husband, killed by approximately 18 whacks.
Though the murder predates Agatha Christie, the scene was straight out of one of her novels: All the doors in their humble home were kept locked. No conclusive murder weapon was ever found. Lizzie Borden had no blood splatter upon her person. She’d been leisurely eating pears in the barn as her parents were being bludgeoned, she said. Assuming her alibi is true, who else could have hacked up the Bordens? The game is afoot.
Suspect #1: Bridget Sullivan, the Maid
At the time of the murders—about 9:30 a.m. for Abby and 11 a.m. for Andrew, per the autopsies performed on the Bordens’ dining room table—just one other person was on site at their home at 92 Second Street: 25-year-old Irish immigrant and housemaid Bridget Sullivan, whom Emma and Lizzie sometimes called “Maggie.” Sullivan said she was washing windows at the time of the murder, an alibi Lizzie corroborated. Sullivan in turn testified faithfully on Lizzie’s behalf, telling authorities that all was well and good in the Borden home—a statement that was clearly false.
If she was actually not involved with the crime, why would Bridget lie? “Because she was a live-in domestic servant and she wanted to continue to get work,” explains C. Cree, author of Killing the Bordens. Unless she was secretly paid off, notes Cree, Sullivan had no motive—unless you get really creative. In the 1984 novel Lizzie, author Ed McBain posited that Borden and Sullivan were perhaps involved in a lesbian affair that was discovered by Abby Borden, who reacted with judgement and disgust. In an improbable scenario such as this, though Sullivan probably would not have wielded the hatchet, she could have been an accomplice after Lizzie hastily killed her stepmother, leaving the duo no choice but to kill Andrew when he returned to the house.
Today is Sunday, Oct. 26, the 299th day of 2025. There are 66 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On October 26, 1861, the legendary Pony Express officially ceased operations, giving way to the transcontinental telegraph. (The last run of the Pony Express was completed the following month.)
Also on this date:
In 1774, the First Continental Congress adjourned in Philadelphia.
In 1825, the Erie Canal opened in upstate New York, connecting Lake Erie and the Hudson River.
In 1881, four lawmen, including Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, exchanged gunfire with five outlaws, killing three of them, in the “Shootout at the O.K. Corral” in Tombstone, Arizona.
In 1979, South Korean President Park Chung-hee was shot to death by the head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, Kim Jae-kyu.
In 1984, “Baby Fae,” a newborn with a severe heart defect, was given the heart of a baboon in an experimental transplant in Loma Linda, California. (She lived 21 days with the animal heart.)
In 2000, the New York Yankees became the first team in more than a quarter-century to win three straight World Series championships, beating the New York Mets in Game 5 of their “Subway Series.”
In 2001, President George W. Bush signed the USA Patriot Act, giving authorities unprecedented ability to search, seize, detain or eavesdrop in their pursuit of possible terrorists.
In 2002, a hostage siege by Chechen rebels at a Moscow theater ended with 129 of the 800-plus captives dead, most from a knockout gas used by Russian special forces who stormed the theater; 41 rebels also died.
In 2020, Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed to the Supreme Court by a deeply divided Senate, installing President Donald Trump’s nominee days before the U.S. general election.
In 2024, Israel launched predawn airstrikes against military targets in Iran in retaliation for a barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired on Israel on Oct. 1. It was the first time Israel’s military had openly attacked Iran.
Today’s Birthdays: Musician Milton Nascimento is 83. Actor Jaclyn Smith is 80. TV host Pat Sajak is 79. Politician, diplomat and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is 78. Musician Bootsy Collins is 74. Artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel is 74. Actor James Pickens Jr. is 71. Actor-singer Rita Wilson is 69. Actor Dylan McDermott is 64. Actor Cary Elwes is 63. Singer Natalie Merchant is 62. Country singer Keith Urban is 58. Actor Tom Cavanagh is 62. Writer-producer Seth MacFarlane (TV: “Family Guy”) is 52. Actor Florence Kasumba is 49. Actor Jon Heder is 48. Actor Folake Olowofoyeku (foh-LAH’-kay oh-low-wow-foh-YAY’-koo) is 42. Rapper Schoolboy Q is 39.
Dr. Roy Meals, a longtime hand surgeon, likes to move his feet. He has climbed mountains and he has run three marathons.
But when he shared his latest scheme with his wife a couple of years ago, she had a quick take.
“You’re nuts,” she said.
Maybe so. He was closing in on 80, and his plan was to grab his trekking poles and take a solo hike along the 342-mile perimeter of Los Angeles. His wife found the idea less insane, somewhat, after Meals agreed to hook up with hiking companions here and there.
Dr. Roy Meals with his book, “Walking the Line: Discoveries Along the Los Angeles City Limits.”
But you may be wondering the obvious:
Why would someone hike around a massive, car-choked, pedestrian-unfriendly metropolis of roughly 500 square miles?
Meals had his reasons. Curiosity and restlessness, for starters. Also, a belief that you can’t really get to know a city through a windshield, and a conviction that staying fit, physically and mentally, is the best way to stall the work of Father Time.
One more thing: Meals’ patients over the years have come from every corner of the city, and the Kansas City native considered it a personal shortcoming that he was unfamiliar with much of L.A. despite having called it home for half his life.
To plot his course, Meals unfolded an accordion style map for an overview, then went to navigatela.lacity.org to chart the precise outline of the city limits. The border frames an oddly shaped expanse that resembles a shredded kite, with San Pedro and Wilmington dangling from a string at the southern extremities.
Dr. Roy Meals takes a break from his walk to talk with Louis Lee, owner of JD Hobbies Store, along West 6th Street in downtown San Pedro.
Meals divided his trek into 10-mile segments, 34 in all, and set out to walk two segments each week for four months, traveling counterclockwise from the 5,075-foot summit of Mt. Lukens in the city’s northern reaches.
Day One began with a bang, in a manner of speaking.
Meals slipped on loose rocks near the summit of Mt. Lukens and tumbled, scuffing elbows and knees, and snapping the aluminum shaft of one of his walking sticks.
But Meals is not one to wave a white flag or call for a helicopter evacuation.
“Later, at home, I employed my orthopedic skills to repair the broken pole,” Meals writes in “Walking the Line: Discoveries Along the Los Angeles City Limits,” his just-published book about his travels.
Dr. Roy Meals walks along West 6th Street in San Pedro.
Meals, now 80 and still seeing patients once weekly at a UCLA clinic, remained upright most of the rest of the way, adhering to his self-imposed rule of venturing no farther than one mile in from the city limits. To get back to his starting point each day, he often took buses and found that although it was slow going, riders often exited with a thanks to the driver, which struck him as “wonderful grace notes of acknowledgment.”
The doctor ambled about with the two trekking poles, a cross-country skier on a vast sea of pavement. He carried a small backpack, wore a “Los Angeles” ballcap and a shirt with the city limits outline on the front, and handed out business cards with a link to his book project.
Those who clicked on the link were advised to escape their own neighborhoods and follow Meals’ prescription for life: “Venture forth on foot, and make interesting, life-enriching discoveries. Wherever you live, be neighborly, curious, fit, and engaged!”
Meals was all those things, and as his surname suggests, he was never shy about sampling L.A.’s abundant offerings.
He tried skewered pig intestines at Big Mouth Pinoy in Wilmington, went for tongue and lips offerings at the Tacos y Birria taco truck in Boyle Heights, thoroughly enjoyed a cheeseburger and peach cobbler at Hawkins House of Burgers in Watts, and ventured into Ranch Side Cafe in Sylmar, curious about the sign advertising American, Mexican and Ethiopian food.
Meals tried hang-gliding at Dockweiler Beach, fencing on the Santa Monica border, rock climbing in Chatsworth, boxing and go-kart racing in Sylmar, weightlifting at Muscle Beach in Venice.
Dr. Roy Meals stops to take in the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial Wall of Honor while walking one of many paths he wrote about in his book.
In each sector, Meals sought out statues and plaques and explored points of history dating back to the Gabrielinos and Chumash, and to the days of Mexican and Spanish rule. He also examined the history of those peculiar twists and turns on the city perimeter, mucking through L.A.’s long-simmering stew of real estate grabs, water politics and annexation schemes.
What remains of the foundation of Campo de Cahuenga in Studio City was one of several locations that “stirred my emotions,” Meals writes in “Walking the Line.” There, in 1847, Andres Pico and John C. Frémont signed the treaty that ceded part of Mexico to the U.S., altering the shape of both countries.
In Venice, Meals was equally moved when he accidentally came upon an obelisk marking the spot where, in April 1942, more than a thousand Japanese Americans boarded buses for Manzanar.
“May this monument … remind us to be forever vigilant about defending our constitutional rights,” it read. “The powers of government must never again perpetrate an injustice against any group based solely on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion.”
At firehouse museums, Meals learned of times when “Black firefighters were met with extreme hostility in the mixed-race firehouses, including being forced to eat separately. … Little did I know that visiting fire museums would be a lesson in the history of racism in Los Angeles,” he writes.
Dr. Roy Meals walks past a display of an armor-piercing projectile in San Pedro.
Although Meals visited well-known destinations such as the Watts Towers and Getty Villa, some of his most enjoyable experiences were what he called “by the way” discoveries that were not on his initial list of points of interest, such as the obelisk in Venice.
“Among those that I stumbled across,” Meals writes, “were the Platinum Prop House, Sims House of Poetry, and warehouses stuffed with spices, buttons, candy, Christmas decorations, or caskets. These proprietors, along with museum docents and those caring for disadvantaged children, bees, rescued guinea pigs, and injured marine mammals genuinely love what they do; and their level of commitment is inspiring and infectious.”
His book is infectious, too. In a city with miles of crumbling sidewalks and countless tent villages, among other obvious failings, we can all find a thousand things to complain about. But Meals put his stethoscope to the heartbeat of Los Angeles and found a thousand things to cheer.
When I asked the good doctor if he’d be willing to revisit part of his trek with me, he suggested we meet in the area to which he awarded his gold medal for its many points of interest — San Pedro and Wilmington. There, he had visited the Banning Mansion, the Drum Barracks, the Point Fermin Lighthouse, the Friendship Bell gifted to L.A. by Korea, the varied architecture of Vinegar Hill, the World War II bunker, the sunken city, the Maritime Museum, etc., etc., etc.
Meals was in his full get-up when we met at 6th and Gaffey in San Pedro. The trekking sticks, the T-shirt with the jigsaw map of L.A., the modest “Los Angeles” hat.
“Let’s go,” he said, and we headed toward the waterfront, but didn’t get far.
Dr. Roy Meals takes a break from his walk to visit with famed San Pedro resident John Papadakis, 75, former owner of the now-closed Greek Taverna in the neighborhood.
A gentleman was exiting an office and we traded rounds of “good morning.” He identified himself as John Papadakis, owner of the now-closed Greek Taverna restaurant, a longtime local institution. He invited us back into his office, a museum of photos, Greek statues and sports memorabilia (he and son Petros, the popular radio talk show host, were gridiron grinders at USC).
San Pedro “is the city’s seaside soul,” Papadakis proclaimed.
And we were on our way, eyes wide open to the wonders of a limitless city that reveals more of itself each time you turn a corner, say hello, and hear the first line of a never-ending story.
Down the street, we peeked in on renovations at the art deco Warner Grand Theater, which is approaching its 100th birthday. We checked out vintage copies of Life magazine at Louis Lee’s JD Hobbies, talked to Adrian Garcia about the “specializing in senior dogs” aspect of his “Dog Groomer” shop, and got the lowdown on 50 private schools whose uniforms come from Norman’s Clothing, circa 1937.
At the post office, we checked out the 1938 Fletcher Martin mural of mail delivery. Back outside, with a view of the port and the sunlit open sea, we met a merchant seaman, relaxing on a bench, who told us his son worked for the New York Times. I later found a moving story by that reporter on his long search for the man we’d just met.
“Traveling on foot allowed me to reflect on and grow to respect LA as never before,” Meals wrote in his book.
On our walk, while discussing what next, Meals said he’s thinking of exploring San Francisco in the same manner.
We were approaching Point Fermin, where Meals pointed out the serene magnificence of a Moreton Bay fig tree that threw an acre of shade and cooled a refreshing salt-air breeze.
Dr. Roy Meals walks along the L.A. Harbor West Path, one of many paths he wrote about in his book, in San Pedro.
“If anything,” Meals told me, “I’m quicker to look at small things. You know, stop and appreciate a flower, or even just an interesting pattern of shadows on the street.”
The message of his book, he said, is a simple one.
Easter Island statues, traditionally known as moai on the remote island of Rapa Nui in the South Pacific, are some of the most impressive artifacts of ancient Polynesian civilization. How the statues were transported has long remained a conundrum, because they can weigh up to several tons yet are scattered throughout the island. Various theories have been proposed, including that they were dragged on wooden sleds or rolled along the ground, but no supportive evidence has backed those claims.
In 2012, a US research team succeeded in propping up a 4.35-ton replica of a moai statue and making it “walk.” The technique, in which two teams using ropes tugged the statue in opposite directions to teeter it forward while a third team ensured it wouldn’t topple over, challenged the conventional theories that moai were moved in a horizontal position.
The question then is how much effort it would have taken to move much larger moai. “Once the moai are in motion, it’s not at all difficult,” explained Carl Lipo, an anthropologist at Binghamton University.
Lipo and his team systematically surveyed 962 moai statues on Easter Island, focusing primarily on 62 found along ancient roads. They recently published a paper providing strong evidence that moai were transported in an upright position.
The team also succeeded in moving an exact replica of roadside moai 100 meters in 40 minutes with only 18 people, a far more efficient result than those of previous experiments.
Researchers demonstrate how the Rapa Nui people may have “walked” moai.
Rules of the Road
The study discovered that moai statues positioned along Rapa Nui’s roads have common characteristics. The broad D-shaped base and forward leaning design of the statues optimized the moai for “walking,” even as they increased in size. In fact, moai abandoned by the side of the road were found to have imbalanced centers of gravity and show signs of toppling over during transport.
This hypothesis is also supported by the ancient roads themselves, which are approximately 4.5 meters wide and have slightly concave cross-sections. Researchers believe these were ideal conditions to aid in stabilizing the moai as they were walked.
A statistical analysis of the distribution of moai showed 51.6 percent were concentrated within 2 km of the quarry where they originated, demonstrating an exponential decay pattern associated with mechanical failure rather than deliberate ceremonial placement. It’s likely these statues were damaged or fell over during transport and left where they lay.
That last game will be remembered for a long time. Ohtani walked the first batter he faced before striking out the next three. Then he came to the plate and launched a ball more than four hundred feet—the first time in M.L.B. history that one of the game’s pitchers had hit a lead-off home run. And that was just the beginning! Over the course of six innings, Ohtani—in his cool, inimitable fashion, with a motion that combines grace and force—gave up only two hits and struck out ten, including six out of the seven batters he’d faced during one stretch. In between, he hit a second homer, one that left the stadium, clearing the center-field roof. As it hung in the night sky, his teammates in the dugout and in the bullpen, who have had a closeup view for all of Ohtani’s Bunyanesque feats, clutched their heads in disbelief. And then he hit a third! It was the greatest performance by the greatest player in history.
Ohtani’s value to the Los Angeles Dodgers is immeasurable. His contract—seven hundred million dollars for ten years, with team-friendly deferrals—is, considering what he brings to the team both on and off the field, a steal. Still, not every M.L.B. team could, or would, pay anyone so much, let alone surround him with other players on gargantuan contracts.
The Dodgers have a payroll of more than three hundred and fifty million dollars, which is nearly three times the size of the Brewers’. This has caused the usual hand-wringing about competitive imbalance and the inherent plight of small-market teams. It’s easy enough to see the crude outlines of a narrative. In game one of the N.L.C.S., Blake Snell, a former Cy Young winner who’d signed with the Dodgers in the off-season for nearly two hundred million dollars, threw eight shutout innings. Then in Game Two came Yoshinobu Yamamoto (three hundred and twenty-five million for twelve years), who gave up a home run to the first batter before pitching a complete game in which no one else got to second base. Tyler Glasnow, who signed with the club for more than a hundred and thirty million dollars over five years, gave up one run in Game Three. Then came Ohtani. The Dodgers have had fifteen consecutive winning seasons and thirteen consecutive playoff appearances, and have already won two World Series this decade. They need another championship like Taylor Swift needs a Grammy. But they’ve become a symbol of something bigger than a juggernaut. They’re sometimes framed as an existential threat to the other teams.
It’s a strange argument—the Brewers, not the Dodgers, had the best record in baseball during the regular season. The Dodgers, in fact, were mediocre for a long stretch in the middle of the season, and lost all six regular-season games they played against the Brewers this year. If anything, the two franchises seemed to support the notion that payroll is only loosely correlated with success. (And let’s not talk right now about the New York Mets.) What’s more, much of the Dodgers’ talent was undervalued by other teams. Betts was traded to the Dodgers by the Boston Red Sox. Max Muncy, who recently set the record for most post-season homers, was claimed off waivers after being released by the Oakland Athletics. For a while last off-season, Snell’s agent had trouble finding a buyer. Rōki Sasaki, who had been an impressive starting pitcher in Japan, was sought after by practically every M.L.B. team—each of which would have been allowed to pay him more or less the same small amount, owing to M.L.B.’s international-amateur-free-agent rules. But his choice to come to the Dodgers was validated when, after joining the team, he struggled badly with his velocity as a starter. He went to the Dodgers’ complex in Arizona, worked with the team’s performance staff, tweaked his mechanics, and embraced a new role in the bullpen, becoming a fearsome reliever almost overnight. It’s a story about competence and trust as much as luxury taxes and revenue.
That’s what really sets the Dodgers apart: they’re good at being good, not just occasionally great. For the past week, Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ manager, has been going on a media spree, trying to make the case that his team is the greatest underdog the sport has ever seen. He’s called attention to salary disparities. He has joked that the series would only be fair if Dodgers’ players wore their gloves on their opposite hands. Murphy made an argument to a writer for the Athletic that his team had no stars, while the Dodgers were full of celebrities. Then, for evidence, he pointed to Mookie Betts, who, at just that moment, zoomed by in a golf cart driven by a Brewers clubhouse attendant. Betts had a big smile on his face. He was being treated better than Murphy, in Murphy’s own stadium!
Or perhaps there was a simpler explanation. Of course Betts had been offered a ride: his smile is infectious. Who can root against him? Likewise, it was impossible to watch Ohtani on Friday and do anything but appreciate the grace of his movements and the grandeur of his performance. Even a hater has to tip her cap. ♦
One gift of February is that it allows teachers and students to learn something new about Black Americans. February begins the first 28 days of a 365-day celebration of African American history. I love Black History Month because it is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible contributions of Black Americans to history, science, art, culture, and civil rights through Black History Month activities. Black Americans are making history every day and it is important to provide opportunities and Black History Month activities for all to learn more about these accomplishments.
As teachers, it’s important to use diverse and engaging resources to help students understand the complexities of Black history in a respectful and meaningful way. I have compiled ideas and Black History Month activities for teaching about Black History Month so that everyone can learn together in our inclusive, culturally rich classrooms.
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When teaching Black History Month activities, it’s crucial to approach the topic with respect, openness, and inclusivity. Here are a few key tips, plus check out more Black History Month tips for schools here.
Foster Open Dialogue
Encourage students to ask questions and express their feelings about what they are learning.
Avoid Simplification
While stories of struggle are important, also highlight stories of achievement, creativity, and the contributions of Black individuals in various fields.
Incorporate Multiple Perspectives
Acknowledge the diversity within the Black community, focusing on the different experiences of Black people throughout history.
Promote Action and Empathy
Encourage students to take action on issues of equality, justice, and human rights, both in and out of the classroom.
When reading, create space for discussion on themes like perseverance, equality, resilience, and the importance of representation. Encourage students to connect the stories with their own lives.
Resources for the activities below:
1. Hold read-aloud sessions
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Choose a selection of age-appropriate poetry and stories featuring important figures and events from Black history. Examples include The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles (grades K-2) and Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (grades 3-5).
2. Organize literature circles
For older students (grades 6-12), organize literature circles where small groups of students read different books about significant Black historical figures (e.g., Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable for high school) and discuss key themes.
3. Write short stories and biographies
Ask students to create a “Black History Month Book” by researching a famous Black figure and writing a fictionalized short story or biography based on real events.
4. Conduct a famous African American military member research assignment
Assign students Black History Month activities to research notable African American military figures (e.g., Colonel Charles Young, the Tuskegee Airmen) and create presentations or posters highlighting their achievements. Highlight the bravery and perseverance of African American military figures who served in segregated units or fought against racial injustice in the armed forces. Teach students about the pivotal role these figures played in changing military policy and advancing civil rights.
5. Conduct a famous African American Olympian research assignment
Have students research famous African American Olympians (e.g., Jackie Robinson, Wilma Rudolph, Simone Biles) and explore their achievements both in and out of the sports arena. Use these athletes as examples of excellence, perseverance, and breaking barriers. Discuss how African American athletes have used their platform to advocate for social justice and equality.
6. Read up on famous African American educators
Have students research famous African American educators (e.g., Mary McLeod Bethune, Booker T. Washington) and their contributions to education. Discuss how these educators advocated for systemic changes in education, and have students debate how education should change today.
Analyze Quotes and Speeches
Encourage students to analyze quotes for the historical context behind them. Explain why these figures spoke these words and how they reflect struggles or triumphs in Black history.
Resources for the activities below:
7. Design a quote wall
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Have students choose a meaningful Black History Month quote each week to display on a bulletin board. They can write a short reflection on what the quote means to them and how it connects to today’s world.
8. Conduct a literary analysis
Have students read a book by an African American author (e.g., The Color Purple, Beloved, The Hate U Give) and watch the film adaptation. Ask them to compare and contrast the two versions, analyzing themes, characters, and historical context. Use the opportunity to explore themes of adaptation, representation, and the different ways stories can be told through various mediums. Encourage critical thinking about how films may either amplify or dilute the messages in the original books.
9. Hold a daily quote challenge
Share a quote each day and have students respond in a journal or on a class blog, reflecting on its impact on their thinking.
10. Create quote displays
Decorate the classroom with student-created artwork and/or quotes from Black leaders, poets, and activists.
11. Interview family members
Have students interview older family members about their personal histories or notable achievements. Students can create family timelines or digital recordings of their interviews. Encourage students to reflect on how family histories tie into broader historical narratives, such as the Civil Rights Movement or the Great Migration. Teach them the value of oral histories in preserving culture and understanding personal connections to the past.
12. Interpret famous quotes
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Present famous quotes (e.g., “The time is always right to do what is right.” —MLK Jr.). Ask students to interpret the quote, identify the historical context, and discuss its relevance today.
Watch, Visit, and Discuss
Ensure films and documentaries are age-appropriate and accompanied by a pre-screening discussion about the historical accuracy and context of what students will see. Consider the accessibility of videos for all students, providing captions, translations, or alternative formats where necessary.
Resources for the activities below:
13. Screen films
Screen films such as Selma (about the Civil Rights Movement) or The Pursuit of Happyness (about the life of Chris Gardner). Follow up with a guided discussion on the historical significance and impact of these events.
14. Watch documentaries
Show educational videos on topics like the Harlem Renaissance or the life of Harriet Tubman. Follow up with guided questions and group discussions.
15. Write movie reviews
Have students write movie reviews or journal entries after watching films, discussing what they learned and how the movie changed or deepened their understanding of Black history.
16. Host comparative film studies
Show films that explore the same topic (e.g., different portrayals of Rosa Parks in The Rosa Parks Story vs. Selma) and ask students to compare and contrast the ways these stories are told.
18. Discuss the significance of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
Organize a virtual tour of an HBCU campus, or arrange for a guest speaker from an HBCU to talk about the experience and opportunities at these institutions. Encourage students to reflect on the significance of HBCUs in shaping Black culture, identity, and history. Incorporate discussions on how HBCUs serve as cultural, social, and intellectual hubs for Black students. Connect this to the broader African American experience, emphasizing how education has been a tool for empowerment.
19. Take a virtual art tour
Take students on a virtual tour of cities known for their African American murals, such as Philadelphia or Detroit. Discuss how murals serve as a visual form of storytelling, activism, and cultural pride. Encourage students to think about the symbolism and themes of murals, and how art can be a powerful tool for social change.
20. Host a guest speaker
If possible, invite a local Black leader or community figure to speak to the class or conduct a virtual interview.
21. Analyze historic photos
Have students analyze historic photos from the Civil Rights Movement, Harlem Renaissance, or Black Power era. Ask them to write or discuss the context, emotions, and historical significance behind the photos. In small groups, students can reenact iconic scenes from Black history based on historic photos, then present their interpretations to the class.
Create and Share
Encourage students to incorporate multimedia, such as music, video clips, and images, to create more engaging presentations that reflect the richness of Black culture. Ensure students understand that Black history is not just about struggle—it is also about achievement, creativity, and community building. Focus on celebrating the diversity of experiences within the Black community.
Resources for the activities below:
22. Share a fact of the day
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Share a daily fact about a prominent Black figure or event. Ask students to create posters or presentations based on these facts.
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23. Play a trivia game
Host a trivia game based on historical facts about Black history. Divide the class into teams and reward correct answers with small prizes or recognition.
24. Encourage journaling
Have students compile a Black History Month fact journal, where they note interesting facts about Black historical figures or events they encounter throughout the month.
25. Decorate your classroom door
Have students help decorate your classroom door with representations of Black leaders, artists, or scholars. Each student can take a part in creating a symbol or image that represents the contributions of Black Americans.
26. Use multimedia to learn about Black sororities and fraternities
Have students create posters or multimedia presentations that showcase the history, values, and impact of organizations like Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, or Omega Psi Phi. Highlight the service and leadership aspects of these organizations. Focus on their community outreach, activism, and scholarship programs. Encourage students to think critically about the role of Black fraternities and sororities in shaping Black history and culture.
27. Cook for the class
Have students research famous African American chefs (e.g., Marcus Samuelsson, Edna Lewis, or Leah Chase) and then try to re-create one of their recipes in class. Discuss the cultural significance of African American cuisine, such as the influence of Southern cooking, soul food, and African influences on American cuisine.
28. Write a song
Have students research the history of protest songs (e.g., “Lift Every Voice and Sing”) or the role of music in the Civil Rights Movement. Students can then write their own songs inspired by these movements.
29. Host a Black history STEM fair
We Are Teachers/Illustrated by Kim Holt
Host a class project where students create presentations on famous African American inventors, scientists, engineers, and tech innovators (e.g., George Washington Carver, Mae Jemison, or Dr. Shirley Jackson). Discuss the challenges and contributions of Black individuals in STEM fields, emphasizing how they’ve overcome barriers and broken new ground. Encourage students to explore STEM careers and the importance of diversity in the field.
Kim Holt
30. Create your own animated character
Have students create their own animated characters that reflect their cultural identity. Encourage students to think about the importance of representation in media and how animated films like The Proud Family or Black Panther have helped to normalize and celebrate Black culture in mainstream media.
31. Create a state map
Have students create a map or infographic that shows the unique ways each state observes Black History Month. Encourage students to explore the diversity of Black experiences across the United States and how each region may approach the celebration of African American history differently. Discuss the significance of the month’s designation and its cultural impact.
32. Hold a fashion show
Students can research and present famous African American fashion designers (e.g., Patrick Kelly, Tracy Reese, Dapper Dan) and hold a fashion show showcasing their styles or influence on contemporary fashion.
Research and Present
There’s so much great information out there about Black history. Have students research a famous person or event and present their findings in writing, a Google Slideshow, video, or any other clever way they choose. Check out all of our ideas for research and presentation below.
Resources for the activities below:
33. Make a collaborative Google Slides project
Students can work together to create a presentation on a Black historical figure using Google Slides. The presentation can include images, text, and even short video clips.
34. Assign a Black history research assignment
Have students research a famous Black American (e.g., Maya Angelou, Booker T. Washington, or W.E.B. Du Bois) and create a report or multimedia presentation about their life and contributions.
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35. Utilize an interactive timeline project
Have students create a timeline highlighting key events in the lives of notable Black leaders and activists.
36. Compare and contrast a trailblazer to a new history maker or difference maker
Have students choose a historical trailblazer (e.g., Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr.) and a new history maker (e.g., Amanda Gorman, LeBron James). Students can debate who has had a greater impact, using evidence and research. Assign students to write essays or create presentations that compare the contributions of these two individuals to society and history.
37. Research Black Wall Street and Black billionaires or New Black Wall Street in Atlanta
Have students research the rise and destruction of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and compare it to modern developments like the New Black Wall Street in Atlanta. Invite a local business leader or entrepreneur who is part of the New Black Wall Street to discuss modern-day economic empowerment in Black communities.
38. Conduct state research
Assign each student a state and have them research the history of how Black History Month is celebrated there, including events, significant figures, and local traditions.
39. Research an invention
Have students research everyday products invented by African Americans (e.g., the traffic light by Garrett Morgan, the hair straightener by Madam C.J. Walker).
40. Research a small business
Research successful African American–owned businesses (e.g., Essence, Uncle Nearest whiskey) and have students create business proposals for their own ventures.
Be sensitive and thoughtful when discussing segregation and racism. Provide students with safe spaces to ask questions and express their thoughts. By using these resources creatively and thoughtfully, we can ensure that our Black History Month lessons are engaging, meaningful, and respectful of the rich legacy of Black Americans.
Get your free printable Black history quote posters!
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Be sure to get your free bundle of five Black History Month quote posters. They’re perfect to decorate your classroom in February and throughout the year!
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Fenyx Blue, M.A.Ed., Reading Specialist, Certified SEL Facilitator
The past several years have certainly been unprecedented ones—a pandemic, civil unrest, political turmoil, and more. Through it all, racial injustice has taken center stage. At times, we’ve all navigated uncomfortable conversations, but it’s more important than ever to dig deep and be the leaders our communities deserve. Here’s a list of Black history videos to enlighten students in every grade level.
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Plus, download our free printable video response worksheets to pair with the Black history videos. Just click the button below to receive your worksheets.
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Video Response Worksheets
Use our free video response worksheets with any of the videos below. There are sections for before, during, and after viewing and a spot to rate the video using a five-star scale.
“I have a dream …” Your students might know Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, but what do they know about the iconic civil rights leader who said them?
2. The Life of Rosa Parks
Learn about Rosa Parks, often called the “Mother of the Freedom Movement,” and what made her so brave and remarkable.
3. “I Am Jackie Robinson” by Brad Meltzer | Read-Aloud
Jack Roosevelt Robinson broke the baseball color line and became the first Black man to play major league baseball in the modern era.
4. The Story of Frederick Douglass
Are you learning about the abolitionist movement in the United States? The emancipation and subsequent freedom of Frederick Douglass is explored in this educational video.
5. The Breathtaking Courage of Harriet Tubman
Take a closer look at the life of escaped slave and American icon Harriet Tubman, who liberated more than 700 enslaved people using the Underground Railroad.
6. Muhammad Ali Biography
This video tells the story of Muhammad Ali, a legend in boxing and Black history.
7. Malcolm X (Civil Rights Leader)
Malcolm X was a civil rights leader whose life journey brought him from fighting for equal rights “by any means necessary” to fighting for justice peacefully.
8. “Teach Me About Garvey” Read-Aloud
Teach Me About Garvey shares the story of Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political activist and founder and first president-general of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League, through which he declared himself Provisional President of Africa.
9. Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a case brought to the Supreme Court in 1954 after Linda Brown, an African American student in Kansas, was denied access to the white-only schools near her home.
10. “A Picture Book of Jesse Owens” Read-Aloud
Before Usain Bolt or Tyson Gay, Bob Beamon, or Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens was perhaps the greatest and most famous athlete in track-and-field history. A Picture Book of Jesse Owens tells his inspiring story.
11. Black History Month Tribute to Mary McLeod Bethune
Take a trip back in time to celebrate Mary McLeod Bethune, an icon in education.
12. “Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History” Read-Aloud
This chapter of Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History tells the story of James Mercer Langston Hughes, one of the earliest innovators of jazz poetry. He is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance.
13. “Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History” Read-Aloud
This selection of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History shares the journey of Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis on November 14, 1960.
14. Sojourner Truth—Abolitionist & Women’s Rights Pioneer
Sojourner Truth was an American abolitionist and women’s rights activist. She was born into slavery but escaped with her infant daughter and became the first Black woman, in 1828, to successfully sue a white man for a family member’s freedom.
15. How Nelson Mandela Fought for Equality and Freedom
Nelson Mandela is famous for his fight against apartheid in South Africa. His unique efforts for peace and reconciliation transformed his country, and he ultimately became president.
16. “Little People, Big Dreams: Maya Angelou” Read-Aloud
In this read-aloud of the international bestseller from the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the incredible life of Maya Angelou, the powerful speaker, writer, and civil rights activist.
17. Black History Month Profile: Serena Williams
Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam tennis singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era and the second-most of all time.
18. NASA Black History Month Astronaut Profile—Jeanette Epps
NASA astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps talks about inspiring young girls and recalls who encouraged her to reach for the stars when she was growing up.
19. Calvin Peete Profile: Black History Month
Calvin Peete was the first successful Black player to not move up through the caddie ranks. Now a World Golf Hall of Famer, he won the prestigious Players Championship in 1985.
20. Can Kids Change the World?
The fight for civil rights didn’t just include adults, it included kids like 7-year-old Ayanna Najuma, who braved harsh consequences to make their communities more inclusive. To learn more about Ayanna and other kids who fought for change, visit this resource from Scholastic.
21. Why Do We Celebrate Black History Month? Facts for Kids
Watch as these kids explore how Black History Month was created to honor and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans in the United States.
22. Miss Jessica’s Black History Month Song
This Grammy-nominated song from Miss Jessica’s World is a celebration of Black excellence in America both past and present. You can download the karaoke version for the classroom!
23. Sesame Street: Celebrate Black History Month Compilation
Celebrate Black History Month on Sesame Street! Join Elmo, Gabrielle, and Tamir as they sing their song “Listen, Act, Unite” from Sesame Street’s “Power of We” special. Then, rediscover favorites ranging from Will.I.Am’s “What I Am” to Erykah Badu’s song about friendship.
24. “I Am the Dream” Black History Song for Kids
Head over to Mr. Pete’s Playhouse for this new anthem for kids. “I Am the Dream” inspires kids to believe that they can be and do anything while celebrating the strong Black figures who helped pave the way for them to succeed!
25. “The Undefeated” | Black History Month Kids Read-Aloud
Join Ms. Mera as she reads the powerful book The Undefeated, written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.
26. What Black Lives Matter Means to Kids
Join the Kind Crew for a powerful episode with motivational speaker Nyeeam Hudson as they share how to use the power of art and honest conversations to fight racism.
27. Meet Dred Scott for Black History Month
This engaging cartoon for kids tells the story of how Scott sued for his and his family’s freedom, ultimately taking their case all the way to the Supreme Court.
28. Discover African American Heroes
This video pays tribute to the remarkable contributions of influential Black individuals throughout history. From civil rights leaders to inventors and artists, explore the inspiring stories of those who have shaped and progressed our society.
29. Emmett Till (Documentary) Black History Month
Learn about Emmett Till, a young boy whose tragic murder became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. This educational video highlights his story and the profound impact it had on exposing racial injustice to the world.
30. Black Scientists and Inventors
Celebrate Black History Month with this engaging animated video that showcases the inspiring lives and achievements of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, George Washington Carver, Madam C.J. Walker, Garrett A. Morgan, and Mae Jemison. Perfect for kids!
31. The Civil Rights Movement for Kids | What Is Segregation?
This kid-friendly video explains what segregation was and how it shaped life in America before the Civil Rights Movement. Students will learn about separate schools, buses, and public spaces, as well as the brave people who worked to end these unfair laws.
32. Child of the Civil Rights Movement
Told through the eyes of a young girl, this story brings the Civil Rights Movement to life for children. Paula Young Shelton, the daughter of activist Andrew Young, shares her memories of growing up surrounded by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and marching for justice in Selma.
Black History Month Videos for Middle and High School
33. Black Lives Matter: Crash Course Black American History #51
Learn about the Black Lives Matter movement and some of the major events that contributed to the rise of BLM, including the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and George Floyd, and the way that social media was used to gain support for the movement.
34. Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott sued his master for his freedom, and Judge Robert Taney ultimately issued two historically consequential rulings. First, African Americans were not citizens and had no right to sue in court. Second, Congress did not have the constitutional authority to ban slavery from the states.
35. Jesse Jackson: Crash Course Black American History #44
Reverend Jesse Jackson is a civil rights activist and icon who began his long career working with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s and continues to contribute to the movement for Black rights today.
36. Emmett Till—American Freedom Stories
On August 24, 1955, a white cashier lied and claimed that 14-year-old Emmett Till flirted with her. Four days later, two white men tortured and murdered the teenager. His murder galvanized the emerging Civil Rights Movement. This is one of the most moving Black history videos for students.
37. Harriet Tubman: Biography
Harriet Tubman was an incredibly brave woman who risked her own life to free hundreds of slaves from plantations via the Underground Railroad.
38. Shirley Chisholm: Crash Course Black American History #43
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm ran for president of the United States of America. While she didn’t win, she did have an incredible career in politics, holding a congressional seat in the New York delegation for decades.
39. The Electrifying Speeches of Sojourner Truth
Get to know the story of Sojourner Truth, a woman born into slavery who became known as a powerful orator and outspoken activist.
40. Marcus Garvey: Biography
Marcus Garvey was an orator for the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, and although at times controversial, he is considered a national hero in Jamaica and inspired the Rastafari movement.
41. Brown v. Board of Education in PBS’s The Supreme Court
This video covers the Supreme Court’s historical rejection of segregation in Southern schools. This is one of the most relevant Black history videos for students on this list!
42. Women and the Black Power Movement: Crash Course Black American History #40
Women have always been a powerful (and largely underappreciated) force in the movement for Black equality in the United States. Learn more about how women contributed to several organizations and the Black Arts Movement.
43. NASA Black History Month Employee Profile: Matthew Bailey
Matthew Bailey is the operations manager for the National Transonic Facility Complex at NASA’s Langley Research Center. The facility is currently testing a model of the Space Launch System, the rocket that will send humans to the moon.
44. Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas: Crash Course Black American History #46
Revisit the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of Clarence Thomas during which Anita Hill testified that Thomas, her former coworker, had sexually harassed her when they worked at the Department of Education. Thomas’ nomination was ultimately confirmed by a margin of 52-48, making him the second Black American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
45. Oprah Winfrey—American Media Proprietor and Talk Show Host
Watch a mini-biography of Oprah Winfrey, who ascended from an impoverished childhood to become one of the most powerful and influential celebrities in the world.
46. Rap and Hip-Hop: Crash Course Black American History #47
Learn more about the origins of rap and hip-hop and the cultural significance of artists including Public Enemy, Wu-Tang Clan, the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, N.W.A., Queen Latifah, and Missy Elliott.
47. Black History Month Profile: Gloria Walton
Gloria Walton is the CEO and president of the Solutions Project, a national nonprofit that helps fund organizations looking to create climate solutions in communities of color.
48. Moments in History: Remembering Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was one of the country’s greatest jurists and civil rights advocates, but he was also a gifted storyteller.
49. The Tuskegee Experiment: Crash Course Black American History #29
This video covers a dark and horrifying chapter in American history: the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. The experiment was carried out by the U.S. Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1932 to 1972.
50. Civil Rights and the 1950s
Take a trip back to America in the 1950s and the early days of the Civil Rights Movement.
51. The Harlem Renaissance: Crash Course Theater
In the 1920s, there was a blossoming of all kinds of art made by Black people in Harlem. Authors like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston were writing plays, and Black theater companies were drawing larger audiences than ever before.
52. The Black Panther Party: Crash Course Black American History #39
Learn about the Black Panthers, a relatively small, relatively political party that made it their mission to expand the rights of Black Americans and had a major impact on U.S. history.
53. Quincy Jones Biography: Life and Career of the Producer and Composer
This short documentary celebrates the legendary life and career of top American jazz musician, composer, arranger, record producer, and entrepreneur Quincy Jones.
54. Equal Protection: The 14th Amendment
Spark a discussion on the 14th Amendment with a focus on the “equal protection” clause and how it relates to civil rights.
55. Nelson Mandela: Civil Rights Activist & President of South Africa
Nelson Mandela was a nonviolent anti-apartheid activist, politician, and philanthropist who became South Africa’s first Black president.
56. Maya Angelou—Civil Rights Activist & Author
Maya Angelou was an American author, actress, screenwriter, dancer, poet, and civil rights activist best known for her 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
57. Beyoncé Is the Highest-Grossing R&B Artist
In honor of Black History Month, Billboard featured Beyoncé, highlighting some of her most incredible achievements.
58. Hurricane Katrina: Crash Course Black American History #49
Crash Course’s Clint Smith discusses his experience as a teen in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Black residents were hit the hardest, with structural racism playing a catastrophic role.
59. Serena Williams and Misogynoir: The Meaning of Sexism and Racism Towards Black Women
Author and SUNY Stony Brook professor Crystal M. Fleming explains what misogynoir means and why Serena Williams calling out sexism at the 2018 U.S. Open Final was a critical moment for Black women.
60. Barack Obama: Crash Course Black American History #50
Barack Obama was the first Black man elected president of the United States, in 2008. Learn more about his early life, political career, presidential campaign, and legislative milestones.
61. Black Lives Matter Movement
Watch Global Citizens share their thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement. This is one of the best Black history videos for students right now.
62. Origins of Black History Month
Discover the history behind February becoming the month dedicated to honoring the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans in the United States and beyond.
63. Black History Month Celebration: African Dance
This vibrant display celebrated African heritage and honored the contributions of Black individuals throughout history.
64. The Great Migration: Crash Course Black American History #24
Between 1916 and 1970, more than 6 million Black Americans moved from the rural South to cities in the North and West. This Crash Course episode explores how the Great Migration transformed American culture, reshaped communities, and laid the groundwork for new forms of activism and expression.
65. The Hidden History of Black Georgetown
Long before Georgetown became one of Washington, D.C.’s most famous neighborhoods, it was home to a thriving Black community whose stories were nearly forgotten. This short documentary uncovers the lives, struggles, and successes of the people who helped shape the city’s history from its earliest days.
66. Bear Witness, Take Action 2: Continuing the Movement
This powerful YouTube Originals special brings together artists, activists, and thought leaders to reflect on racial injustice and the ongoing fight for equality. Through personal stories, performances, and honest conversations, the film encourages viewers to learn, reflect, and take meaningful action in their own communities.
Get your free printable video response worksheets!
We Are Teachers
Use our video response worksheets with any of the videos listed above. The free printables come with sections for before, during, and after viewing and a spot to rate the video using a five-star scale. Simply fill out the form at the link below to get started!
Baron George Gordon Byron had become an overnight literary sensation in 1812, and lived accordingly; he spent profligately, abused alcohol and opium, and fornicated indiscriminately with both men and women. Byron slept with Claire because she was there and willing, the biographers say. But why did Claire so desperately want to sleep with Byron? “I don’t think Claire knows about the gay stuff, and he has a reputation as a ladies’ man,” says Gordon. “For her, it’s like sleeping with Mick Jagger.” That her poet-boyfriend was more esteemed and famous than Mary’s was icing on the cake.
Neither woman suspected that their getaway’s central romance would, in fact, be the bromance between Percy and Byron. To be clear, it’s not certain that the two were physically romantic in Geneva: “Whether their genitals touched, I don’t know,” says Gordon. “But they’re fawning all over each other and their ideas.” Ignoring their relative partners, the men took day trips together, sailed and swam, had deep discussions about Napoleon. By the end of the vacation, Bryon was what Gordon calls “heartily sick” of Claire, who was also newly sick herself; she was pregnant with Bryon’s baby.
Dr. John William Polidori: Bryon’s Secretary, Companion, “Personal Physician”
Complicating matters further, Byron had traveled to Geneva with another guest: 21-year-old doctor John Polidori. “Bryon travels with a personal physician, like Michael Jackson,” explains Sampson. The pair’s relationship was volatile and complicated, and some modern-day scholars suspect the perpetually single doctor of being secretly in love with Bryon. Polidori not-so-subtly based the seductive blood-sucking aristocrat in his story, The Vampyre, on the poet. Three years later, the story was published under Byron’s byline.
At the Geneva villa, Byron and Percy mercilessly teased Polidori, giving him the effeminate nickname “Polly-Dolly.” To compensate, perhaps, Polidori wrote endlessly in his diary about Mary, for whom he dramatically jumped off a balcony and sprained his ankle. “Now Polidori’s in love with Mary per se, because really they’re all in love with Byron—except Mary, who’s busy with her six-month-old son and writing her masterpiece,” says Gordon. After shutting him down repeatedly, Mary would leave Geneva at the end of the summer and never again see Polidori—who never married, and died by suspected suicide five years after the trip. So too did Percy’s estranged wife, allowing the Shelleys to finally marry in 1816.
Edward and Jane Williams: Unmarried Couple, Probable Swingers
Frankenstein was published anonymously at first, then again in 1821 by “M.me Shelley”—a shocking abomination, to some, that a woman would write something so dark and grotesque. With Mary Shelley’s reputation at an all-time low, the entourage moved next to Italy. In a relatively small expat community, they met a couple about their age, Edward and Jane Williams. Like the Shelleys and company, their relationship was unconventional: “She’d left an abusive husband to be with Edward, so they weren’t actually married,” says Sampson. Also like many in the Shelleys’ cohort, the Williamses were already exiled—and therefore free to flaunt convention however they saw fit.
Today is Thursday, Oct. 16, the 289th day of 2025. There are 76 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On Oct. 16, 1962, the Cuban missile crisis began as President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed the presence of Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba.
Also on this date:
In 1758, American lexicographer Noah Webster was born in Hartford, Connecticut.
In 1793, Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, was beheaded during the French Revolution.
In 1859, radical abolitionist John Brown led an unsuccessful raid on the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry in what was then western Virginia. The raid failed to spark Brown’s intended slave rebellion, but deepened North-South animosities leading to the Civil War. (Ten of Brown’s men were killed, others fled, and Brown and six followers were caught and executed.)
In 1934, Chinese communists, under siege by the Nationalists, began their “long march” lasting a year from southeastern to northwestern China.
In 1964, China set off its first atomic bomb, codenamed “596,” on the Lop Nur Test Ground.
In 1968, American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos sparked controversy at the Mexico City Olympics by giving “Black power” salutes during a victory ceremony after they had won gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter race.
In 1978, the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church chose Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to be the new pope; he took the name John Paul II.
In 1984, Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of non-violent struggle for racial equality in South Africa.
In 1987, 18-month-old Jessica McClure was pulled from an abandoned well in Midland, Texas, after being stuck there for more than two days. The efforts to rescue “Baby Jessica” captured the attention of the nation.
In 1991, a gunman opened fire at a Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, killing 23 people before taking his own life.
In 1995, the Million Man March, a gathering of Black men meant to foster unity in the face of economic and social issues affecting African Americans, was held in Washington, D.C.
In 2017, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been captured and held by the Taliban for five years after walking away from his post in Afghanistan in 2009, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. He was subsequently given no prison time after submitting evidence of torture at the hands of the Taliban. A federal judge vacated his military conviction in 2023.
In 2024, more than 140 people, including children, were killed in Nigeria when an overturned gasoline tanker truck exploded in flames while they tried to scoop up spilled fuel. Dozens more were injured in the massive inferno in Jigawa state.
Today’s Birthdays: Actor Fernanda Montenegro is 96. Actor Barry Corbin is 85. Musician Bob Weir is 78. Actor-director Tim Robbins is 67. Rock musician Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 63. Filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan is 63. Actor Terri J. Vaughn is 56. Singer John Mayer is 48. Former WNBA point guard Sue Bird is 45. Actor Caterina Scorsone is 44. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper is 33. Tennis player Naomi Osaka is 28.
Witches freak me out. 8 years ago I made the mistake of mentioning this to Ben, who told everyone else at the office. For weeks I would get E-mails from Dougy, Mac, and Ben of random scary photos of witches.
Good times, indeed… now onto what this post is actually about.
In 1692, the quiet Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts descended into hysteria. What began with a few strange fits among young girls spiraled into one of the darkest chapters in colonial American history: The Salem Witch Trials.
Fear, superstition, and the weight of religious fervor turned neighbour against neighbour as accusations spread like wildfire. Within a year, dozens were executed or imprisoned, and the town was forever scarred by its own paranoia.
In fewer than 15 minutes, two separate carloads of people pulled up to the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez last Saturday. But then they turned away because the 325-acre park, with its Victorian mansion, historic pear orchard and visitor’s center, had been closed to the public without notice.
“What’s going on?” a man in one car asked. When told that the park was closed because of the federal government shutdown, he said, “I didn’t expect a historic site to be closed. I feel bad.” He had driven an hour from Santa Clara to Martinez, having heard that a famous American once lived there.
That eminent figure is Muir, the Scottish-born naturalist who founded the Sierra Club and hosted President Theodore Roosevelt on a camping trip in Yosemite in 1903. Muir is called the “father of the national parks,” in part because the writing he did in his Martinez study persuaded Americans to see their wilderness areas as treasures to preserve, not as resources to be exploited.
John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, pictured on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, is closed to the public due to the government shutdown. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
But since Oct. 1, Muir’s home has been shuttered, a closure Jonathan Jarvis, the director of the park service from 2009 to 2017, and Mark Rose, Sierra Nevada and clean air senior program manager of National Parks Conservation Association, said was emblematic of the murky future of the National Park Service.
Popular national parks in the Bay Area such as Alcatraz, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore remain open during the shutdown, though some of the larger open-air parks will offer bare-bones services. But three smaller, historic parks have been closed in Contra Costa County: Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial in Concord, and the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville.
Tao House, located at the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site in Danville, where playwright Eugene O’Neill and his wife, Carlotta, lived from 1937 to 1944, is one of the national parks closed due to the federal government shutdown. (Cindi Christie/Staff Archives)
Jarvis and Rose said they fear the shutdown could become a pretext to drastically reduce funding for the country’s public parks, even as they broke attendance records in 2024, with 332 million visits. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump proposed $900 million in cuts to the park service — as detailed in a May 2 letter to the Senate Committee on Appropriations from Russell Vought, director of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget — potentially wiping out budgets for at least 350 of the 433 parks, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.
Even though a House Appropriations Committee proposal would avert the administration’s “most damaging” cuts, the park service has still lost a quarter of its permanent staff since earlier this year, the parks association said. With the shutdown, more than 9,200 parks employees have been furloughed without pay, according to the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service Contingency Plan.
Friday, Vought announced on X that “The RIFs have begun,” referring to reductions-in-force of the 750,000 federal employees currently furloughed because of the shutdown. Politico confirmed with an OMB spokesperson that the reductions “are substantial” and “not furloughs.”
“The administration has been calling it a reduction in force, but it would just be a mass termination of potentially hundreds of thousands of additional park service staff,” Rose said.
The park service, in an email, said it “remains committed to maintaining as much access as possible to park lands during the lapse in appropriations. Critical functions that protect life, property and public health will continue to be staffed.”
The spokesperson did not respond to a question about potential layoffs, saying, “We do not have comment on personnel matters.” The White House Press Office’s automatic reply email stated media members could expect delays in responses because of the shutdown.
In contrast to the official parks service statement, Rose and Jarvis describe a more dire situation: To stay open, larger open-air national parks are relying on skeleton crews, which may be challenged to stop vandalism, harm to wildlife or damage to natural resources. Rose also said public safety is compromised, as help could be delayed if visitors get lost or injured.
This situation is the result of “a combination of incompetence and intent,” said Jarvis, who lives in Pinole. During a 2013 government shutdown, he closed all the national parks and said it’s “stupid” that parks are not all closed right now, though this move would be politically unpopular. He said the circumstances around this shutdown are unlike anything he’s seen. “It’s chaos upon chaos,” he said of the current state of the national park service.
Jarvis and Rose describe a top-down style of leadership in the U.S. Department of the Interior, which runs the park service, resulting in confusing information about what’s open, what’s closed and how the public should be notified. The national parks shutdown contingency plan stated that park websites and social media would not be updated, nor will regular notices of road or trail closures be posted.
Jarvis has raised concerns that the Trump administration is setting up national parks to fail. In a worse-case scenario he described in The Guardian, the parks’ failure would give this administration an excuse to privatize the park service’s high-visitation “cash cows,” such as Yosemite, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon.
As for the hundreds of smaller parks, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in May proposed the idea of transferring them to state agencies, as recommended by the Office of Budget and Management. Jarvis said that wouldn’t be easy, given that each national park was established by Congress and new legislation would be needed to strip them of their status. It’s also questionable whether many states could step in to run these parks, he said.
The John Muir site and the other Contra Costa parks fall into that category. The park service manages more than 130 sites that highlight places related to significant figures and events in American history. This includes famous battlegrounds, presidential homes and others that have been established to elevate narratives about those sidelined in traditional texts.
Interior of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park visitor center on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in Richmond, Calif. This site is closed to the public due to the government shutdown. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
So the Bay Area is home to the Rosie the Riveter park, which spotlights women who contributed to the war effort, local Japanese Americans and Black migrants from the segregated South. World War II also provides the backdrop for Concord’s Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, which honors 320 Black soldiers killed in a 1944 explosion while unloading munitions — a tragedy that led to desegregation of the military.
Even if the Trump administration doesn’t have the legal authority to offload these sites, Jarvis expressed concern about the “moral aspect” of sending the message that they should be removed from the national park system.
“You’re basically saying that the people that the stories that these parks represent are not relevant to the American experience, and that’s just horrible,” Jarvis said.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not just a dreamer, he was an action taker. He was a courageous leader who, in only 39 years, changed the course of history. As a teacher who has shared his story with countless students, I’m struck again and again by the depth and complexity of his life: a man of vision, resilience, and sacrifice. His words and actions remind us that progress is possible, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles. Our world would look very different without Dr. King’s courage, and that is why the holiday designated in his honor must be more than a day off. Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be a day of reflection, celebration, and action.
For educators, it is also a call to bring his lessons alive in the classroom with Martin Luther King Jr. activities that inspire students to dream boldly and to lead with justice. Below, I share meaningful ways you can help your students not only learn about Dr. King but also live out the values he modeled. Let’s dream bigger and take action!
Our free Martin Luther King Jr. worksheets include printable pages of student handouts and activities. Just click the link below to get them!
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Elementary School Martin Luther King Jr. Activities
1. Painted Poems of Peace
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Students write an acrostic poem using the name “Martin Luther King Jr.” and create a painting or drawing that incorporates a meaningful quote from him.
2. Dream Quilt
Each student designs a square inspired by MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The class then assembles the squares into a collaborative quilt made from fabric, paper, or felt.
3. “Dear Dr. King” Letters
Students write heartfelt letters to Dr. King expressing gratitude, asking questions, or sharing their own dreams for justice.
4. Invent for Justice
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Students brainstorm and design an invention that could have helped Dr. King spread his message of civil rights (like a peace-spreading machine, equality robot, or mobile unity van).
5. King’s Quotes Mosaic
Each student illustrates an MLK quote, and all the artwork is pieced together to form a large mosaic of Dr. King’s face.
6. MLK Timeline Parade
Students create small “floats” or rolling dioramas depicting major events in MLK’s life and parade them through the school, or the floats/dioramas can remain still and the students do the parading.
7. Dream in a Diamond
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Students create a diamante poem (diamond-shaped poem) about Dr. King, capturing the essence of his life and dream in just a few powerful words.
8. The Dream Tree
Create a classroom tree where each leaf contains a student’s dream for a better world, inspired by MLK’s dream.
9. MLK Then & Now
Students write or draw how a day in Dr. King’s life would be different today in terms of technology, travel, activism, etc.
10. Nobel Peace Prizes
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Students research MLK’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize and other Nobel Peace Prize winners, then create a class peace promise. They then nominate students in the class who should earn a peace prize.
11. MLK’s Family Tree
Students create a family tree for Dr. King and research key family members who influenced him.
12. MLK Puzzle Challenge
Students create or solve a jigsaw puzzle with facts and quotes about Dr. King. For fun, teachers could allow students to create a puzzle outside with chalk.
13. Design a Dream T-Shirt
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Students design a T-shirt with images or quotes honoring MLK and his message.
14. “Dream Friendship” Bracelets
Students use crafting letters, string, and beads to make a bracelet that has their dream on it (if they make the bracelet for themselves) or a positive,inspiring, uplifting word on it to give to a friend or classmate.
Middle School Martin Luther King Jr. Activities
15. The Road to Tragedy
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Students explore the cause-and-effect events that led to Dr. King’s assassination. They create timelines or flowcharts that help explain the political and social tensions of the time.
16. Kahoot! With a Cause
Students play or create their own Kahoot! quiz to test and share knowledge about Dr. King’s life, speeches, and legacy. Teachers can guide younger students through a pre-made version.
17. “King’s Kitchen Table” Interviews
Students research key people from MLK’s life—his parents, teachers, wife Coretta Scott King, fellow activists—and role-play a dinner-table conversation sharing personal stories and quotes.
18. MLK in Comic Strips
Students illustrate a comic strip that tells a real moment from MLK’s life or an imaginary conversation between MLK and a modern child.
19. “Road to Peace” Board Game
Students design a board game where players move forward by answering trivia or making peaceful choices inspired by MLK’s values.
20. “Voices of Justice” Song or Rap
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Students write and perform an original song or rap honoring Dr. King’s life and legacy.
21. “The Cost of Justice” Then vs. Now
Students research the prices of everyday items and transportation costs in the 1950s–’60s and compare them to today, understanding historical context.
22. MLK Civil Rights Tour
Students plan a tour visiting key sites in MLK’s life like Ebenezer Church, Selma, and the Birmingham Jail.
23. “Breaking News!” MLK Headlines
Students summarize real newspaper articles about MLK using the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, why).
24. What’s in a Name?
Students explore why Dr. King’s name was changed and then research or present the meaning/story behind their own name.
25. “I Have a Dream” Video Reflection
Students watch MLK’s speech and complete a reflection sheet about its meaning and impact.
High School Martin Luther King Jr. Activities
26. Words That Changed the World
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Students analyze and compare Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech with his “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” identifying tone, purpose, and historical impact.
27. MLK Radio Show
Students script and record a mock 1960s radio segment reporting on Dr. King’s latest march, award, or speech. They add in fake interviews and ads from the era.
28. MLK Soundtrack
Students explore music from the Civil Rights era, create a themed playlist, or perform freedom songs that connect to MLK’s message. Students can also use modern songs or make their own song titles.
29. The MLK Storybook
Older students create illustrated children’s books about MLK’s life and read them aloud to younger students.
30. My Dream Speech
Students write and perform their own “dream speeches,” inspired by MLK’s vision and oratorical style.
31. Leaders in the Light and Shadows
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Students research and compare Dr. King to other civil rights leaders or opponents using Venn diagrams, organizers, or presentations to contrast their beliefs, strategies, and impact.
32. MLK’s Insta & TikTok
Students create mock Instagram or TikTok profiles for MLK, including sample posts, hashtags, or videos he might share if he were alive today.
33. MLK Around the World
Students complete a world language worksheet (Spanish, French, or Mandarin) with vocabulary and facts showing MLK’s global impact.
34. “March for Change” Event Planning
Students plan a peaceful community march including budgeting, logistics, permits, and MLK-inspired messaging.
35. “If MLK Were Here Today” AI & Age Progression Activity
Students use age-progression AI tools to visualize what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. might look like today, or create a timeline of AI-generated portraits of him at various life stages (childhood, teenage years, adulthood, older age). After generating the images, students write reflective journal entries or speeches imagining what he might think about today’s world and civil rights issues. Students can imagine Dr. King at historic events he did not get the opportunity to see like the first Black president, the first Black female vice president, or all races united marching for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Extensions:
Include AI-generated “photo captions” for historical milestones.
Use text-based AI (like ChatGPT) to generate a fictional interview with an older Dr. King.
36. Debate for the Dream
Adrienne Hathaway for We Are Teachers
Students participate in a structured debate arguing whether Dr. King’s nonviolence movement was the best approach, or if he was the most influential leader of the Civil Rights era.
37. Map Martin’s Memories
Students create digital or real maps to document historic places MLK visited and those that honor him now.
Download our free printable Martin Luther King Jr. worksheets!
We Are Teachers
We’ve created a set of reading materials and accompanying activities that’s perfect for elementary and middle school students. It includes a writing prompt and graphic organizer page too. Get your free Martin Luther King Jr. printables here.
What are your favorite Martin Luther King Jr. activities to celebrate his incredible legacy? Come share your ideas in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
