2025 North Carolina Council for the Social Studies Conference

Director and co-directors of a 2024 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Teacher Institute focusing on the Wilmington coup and massacre will share a variety of digital resources as well as lesson plans created by the teachers who attended the institute. A brief overview of the coup and massacre, classroom-ready resources, and plans for more professional development sessions will be shared. This session aligns with content for 4th grade, 8th grade, and American history courses.

This Poster Session will feature a curriculum unit with students looking at the Civil Rights Movement through the lens of the Black Churches. Students will explore why groups like SNCC and SCLC were formed and how they mobilize Blacks and Whites to stand up and speak out against inequalities faced by Blacks in the South. Students will understand why so many Civil Rights Leaders became Reverends and how they used the First Amendment to fight back against their oppressors. Students will examine the various Civil Rights Churches and the impact they had on the movement and their implications for today’s society. Students will research the role North Carolina’s Black Churches and their leaders played in the Civil Rights movement and share their findings with their peers through a product of their choice.

This poster session will feature a curriculum unit to explore the Modern Freedom Movement in Charlotte, North Carolina, providing them with insight into the contemporary Black freedom struggle. By contextualizing this movement within the broader Civil Rights Movement in the South, students will engage critically with its historical significance and evolution. The curriculum features a diverse range of primary sources, including newspaper articles, photographs, and impactful speeches, allowing students to analyze the rich narratives that have influenced the fight for racial equality. Students will investigate the contributions of prominent local figures such as Dorothy Counts, Reginald A. Hawkins, Julius Chambers, and Bertha Maxwell-Roddey, as well as the vital work of journalists like Trezzvant Anderson. Through this comprehensive exploration, participants will uncover the powerful stories that have shaped their community's activism and resilience. This unit not only fosters a deeper appreciation for the ongoing struggle for justice but also empowers students to recognize the importance of local efforts in the pursuit of equality. By connecting historical events to present-day realities, students will be inspired to engage in meaningful dialogue and action within their communities.

Discover innovative ways to teach the pivotal story of Wilmington 1898, a moment of racial injustice and democratic upheaval, using PBS’s American Experience episode Wilmington 1898: American Coup. Explore strategies to engage students with primary sources, multimedia content, and inquiry-based learning that connects this historical event to broader themes in American history and global struggles for equity and justice and learn about ongoing professional development opportunities that will equip you to foster critical thinking and meaningful discussions on citizenship and the enduring impact of history in your classroom.

70 years ago, in 1955, the killing of Emmett Till changed the course of American history. Yet, what most people believe about what happened and who did it is based on a lie to cover-up a greater conspiracy. Emmy-winning filmmaker, Loki Mulholland, explores the true history using rarely seen historical documents and excerpts from his documentary, “Emmett Till: White Lies, Black Death”, to examine the facts and what we can learn about teaching honest history today. Participants will have a deeper understanding of the Civil Rights Movement and how to help their students become active participants in exploring history.

On November 10, 1898 the only successful coup d'etat in America took place in Wilmington, North Carolina. The insurrection ended with many of Wilmington’s African-American citizens murdered, many more fled Wilmington never to return, while still others were barred from the city in perpetuity. The Daily Record, the black-owned and published newspaper also had its building burned to the ground by insurrectionists. Self-avowed “white supremacists” led the insurrection that had been building for months with racially charged language and accusations. The aftermath of this massacre on Wilmington, North Carolina, and the South as a whole was palpable and repercussions were felt for many decades. This is a part of North Carolina history and United States history about which many are not aware. If you attend this session, you will learn more about the role played by Charles B. Aycock, Furnifold Simmons, Alfred M. Waddell, the Secret 9, the Redshirts, and Alex Manly, as well as The News and Observer. Come to this session to learn more about the famous people, the forgotten people, and the little-known events of the Wilmington Massacre/Insurrection of 1898. We will also discuss how this historical event continues to have an effect on the present.

Learn about the history of racism in the financial world with a focus on housing and banking. This session explores the FREE NGPF resources included in the Racial Discrimination in Finance Mini-Unit. This topic is primarily discussed in EPF, but can also apply within a Civic Literacy and American History curriculum focus.