Bringing The 1619 Project to the School District of Philadelphia

Posted by Pulitzer Center on August 8, 2023

The following reflection was written by Abigail Henry, who teaches African American History in Philadelphia, PA. Henry shared the book The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story with her classes as part of the Pulitzer Center-Penguin Random House 1619 Pilot Program. Henry is also part of the inaugural cohort of The 1619 Project Education Network.

Fugitive Pedagogy by Jarvis R. Givens is a wonderful book about the history of Carter G. Woodson and Black education theory and teaching practice. In the text, Givens argues that “Black people’s political clarity meant that they understood their teaching and learning to perpetually take place under persecution, even as they created learning experiences of joy and empowerment.” He also describes many specific instances of the targeting of Black teachers that resonate with me as a Black teacher continuing to work in the current politicized education climate.

I expressed this to Ismael Jimenez, director of social studies for the School District of Philadelphia (SDP), after I started reading the book and stated how relevant the book felt to the work we have been doing in updating Philadelphia’s historic African American History curriculum. Jimenez agreed and stated that for Black teachers like me, reading the book can be professionally “liberating.”

SDP is approaching their 20th Anniversary of mandating African American History. For this anniversary, they are working on updating their curriculum with the goals of providing a more African-centered worldview (one focused on historical accounts of Black success removed from the umbrella of white supremacist structures) and increasing opportunities for students to encounter diverse Black perspectives. An additional goal of the course is to celebrate Black humanity, dignity, and greatness without reducing such lived experiences within the mold of oppressive systems.

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