Martin Luther King Jr. & Black History

Teaching Martin Luther King Jr. and Black history well requires more than inspirational quotes or simplified timelines. These topics help students understand how social change actually happens—through strategy, resistance, government response, and the clash between ideals and power. When students learn this history honestly, they gain the tools to think critically about justice, leadership, and the ongoing debates shaping our society today.

Featured Unit Studies

The Life, Death, and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

This unit moves beyond the “sanitized” version of Dr. King’s story to examine the real civil rights movement—economic boycotts, organized resistance, state surveillance, and why King became a perceived threat to those in power. Students explore how movements succeed, why King’s message expanded beyond civil rights, and why his work remains unfinished.

👉 This K-5 Unit Study is Ideal for families who want thoughtful, discussion-rich Black history grounded in primary events—not slogans.

---

The Historical Roots of DEI – Unit Study

DEI is a term students hear constantly—but rarely understand historically. This unit study explores where DEI ideas actually come from, tracing key post–World War II events that shaped modern conversations about race, power, institutions, and reform.

This study isn’t about persuasion or ideology—it’s about context. Students examine major historical developments that influenced DEI’s rise so they can engage thoughtfully, critically, and independently with the topic today.

Students will explore:

• Martin Luther King Jr.’s later work and the government response to his leadership
• COINTELPRO and the FBI’s targeting of Black activists
• The Black Panther Party and state opposition
• The War on Drugs and its long-term consequences
• Voting rights battles and landmark court cases
• The rise of DEI as a complex and controversial movement

👉 This unit study is designed for teens who are ready to understand modern DEI debates through historical evidence rather than opinion.

---

Why These Units Belong Together

When paired together, these studies give students a clear historical framework for understanding Black history, civil rights, and modern DEI conversations. Rather than reacting emotionally or repeating talking points, students learn to trace ideas, examine evidence, and recognize how past decisions continue to shape the present.

These units are especially well-suited for homeschool families who value:

• Honest, non-fiction history
• Critical thinking over activism or avoidance
• Open discussion grounded in facts