Justice Archives | Southern Poverty Law Center

Civil Rights Movement
Race and Ethnicity

Classroom Resource

Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation

Congressman and civil rights movement hero John Lewis wrote this final article to be published on the day of his funeral.

July 18, 2022

John Lewis

Civil Rights Movement
Slavery

Classroom Resource

The Freedman’s Bureau!

This political cartoon from 1866 attacks Black suffrage and the Freedman’s Bureau.

July 18, 2022

Unknown

Civil Rights Movement
Race and Ethnicity
Slavery

Classroom Resource

Oh Freedom

“Oh Freedom” is a popular song that was often played during civil rights marches. This particular YouTube video pairs the song with a slide show of various images from the marches.

July 18, 2022

Author Unknown, Performed by the Golden Gospel Singers

Slavery

Classroom Resource

The people in these images were each enslaved from birth and then freed after the Civil War. The photos were taken by Essie Collins Matthews. They were published as part of a book that argues slavery was not bad. Collins used images of formerly enslaved people who continued to live with their enslavers after the…

February 26, 2020

Various

Slavery

Classroom Resource

The Night Was Dark

During the time of slavery, Harriet Tubman helped many people escape their plantations at night and get to the Underground Railroad.

February 19, 2020

Jarah Botello

Slavery

Classroom Resource

Literacy as Resistance

The people pictured in these images were enslaved, but they learned to read and write. Many enslavers did not allow enslaved people to read or write. Enslavers knew that reading and writing were powerful tools that could lead to freedom. But these three people learned to read, and the books they wrote helped lead to…

January 28, 2020

Various