A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : Massive Resistance in Virginia--Images University of Virginia: The Ground Beneath Our Feet (Episodes in Virginia History)--Massive Resistance This resource continues to explore the ramifications of the "massive resistance" era. It introduces students to the personalities and issues of the period through the use of newspaper images. The immediacy of these black and white photographs is striking, allowing students to see, for example, photographs of the African American students who initiated the Prince Edward County lawsuit, or to compare the "private academies" and "home schools" of the state's white students with the tar paper shacks and over-crowded classrooms provided for the state's black students. Show students a picture of the Prince Edward School and ask students where this school or students are located. On a map show them that the school is in Virginia and how far they are away from the school. Show a picture of an African American school then one of a white school during the same time and place. Ask students to comment on the segregation slogan "separate but equal". Have students pick one of the photographs and write a non-fiction biography about the person in the photograph including their family, social, political and educational experiences during segregation. Show a minimum of three pictures and have students write a fictional letter from one person in a picture to a family member describing the events of the picture.

(a) identifying the importance of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the roles of Thurgood Marshall and Oliver Hill, and how Virginia responded;

Massive Resistance in Virginia--Images
University of Virginia: The Ground Beneath Our Feet (Episodes in Virginia History)--Massive Resistance

Description: This resource continues to explore the ramifications of the "massive resistance" era. It introduces students to the personalities and issues of the period through the use of newspaper images. The immediacy of these black and white photographs is striking, allowing students to see, for example, photographs of the African American students who initiated the Prince Edward County lawsuit, or to compare the "private academies" and "home schools" of the state's white students with the tar paper shacks and over-crowded classrooms provided for the state's black students.

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion

Show students a picture of the Prince Edward School and ask students where this school or students are located. On a map show them that the school is in Virginia and how far they are away from the school. Show a picture of an African American school then one of a white school during the same time and place. Ask students to comment on the segregation slogan "separate but equal."

Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Have students pick one of the photographs and write a non-fiction biography about the person in the photograph including their family, social, political and educational experiences during segregation. Show a minimum of three pictures and have students write a fictional letter from one person in a picture to a family member describing the events of the picture.