A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : Massive Resistance in Virginia--Multimedia University of Virginia: The Ground Beneath Our Feet (Episodes in Virginia History)--Massive Resistance This audio/video resource contains two interview clips with an African American mother and daughter who lived through the period of segregated education in Virginia. It allows students to further explore the complexities of "massive resistance" and its eventual demise. Among other things, students can compare the testimony of Mrs. Issac with the account given by her mother, Mrs. Allen. There will be interesting contrasts as well as similarities between the views and motivations of separate generations. Play one of the interview audio clips at the very beginning of class and ask students to write reactions to the clip. Ask students to discuss what they think segregation was like in Virginia, and how it compared to other places around the country. Have students choose one of the people from the interview section on the related documents page. Students should listen to the interview and follow along with the transcription. They will then write a letter to the person being interviewed giving their own opinions and asking further questions. Ask students to complete their own interview of someone who lived through the segregation era. Then have them compare their interview to that of one of the ones they listened to in class, and write a short paper on why they might be similar or different.

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

Description: This audio/video resource contains two interview clips with an African American mother and daughter who lived through the period of segregated education in Virginia. It allows students to further explore the complexities of "massive resistance" and its eventual demise. Among other things, students can compare the testimony of Mrs. Issac with the account given by her mother, Mrs. Allen. There will be interesting contrasts as well as similarities between the views and motivations of separate generations.

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion

Play one of the interview audio clips at the very beginning of class and ask students to write reactions to the clip. Ask students to discuss what they think segregation was like in Virginia, and how it compared to other places around the country.

Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

Have students choose one of the people from the interview section on the related documents page. Students should listen to the interview and follow along with the transcription. They will then write a letter to the person being interviewed giving their own opinions and asking further questions. Ask students to complete their own interview of someone who lived through the segregation era. Then have them compare their interview to that of one of the ones they listened to in class, and write a short paper on why they might be similar or different.