Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Why is the year 1968 significant in American history?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial to provide students with sub-categories for interrogating this broad topic. For instance, this timeline from the Smithsonian highlights four categories: civil rights, gender equality, the Vietnam War, and student movements. It may also be helpful to break students into small groups or pairs to explore how each of these categories contributes to what many call one of the most revolutionary years in American history. Another subcategory for students to research might be the roles of children in these movements (an offshoot of student movements).

• This article from History.com functions as a timeline of 1968, outlining historically and politically significant events from that year.
• This resource page from The National Archives points to multimedia and primary sources pulled directly from the archives, national museums, and presidential libraries.

2. What was The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense?

Teaching Suggestion:  For many students, this may be a contentious topic spanning knowledge from a variety of perspectives and sources.