Jacob Lawrence

Jacob Lawrence's paintings contain striking images and maximize the power of color.  Lawrence lived during the 20th century, but his work in the collection "Struggle" depicts a fresh and hard-hitting perspective on United States history between the Boston Massacre and the War of 1812.  These egg tempera paintings would be great additions to any lesson about this period, and a combination of his paintings with relevant historical texts will spark conversations about the way we understand and interpret history.  Check out this article from The Washington Post as you consider how you can incorporate Lawrence's paintings into your American literature or AP English Language courses in particular.  If you're willing, please share the kinds of written responses you might ask your students to complete?

These ‘missing’ Jacob Lawrence paintings are finally in a museum — and they’re masterpieces

Joy Harjo, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation and the 23rd poet laureate of the United States, regularly tackles tough topics.  In a recent interview with Joe Heim of The Washington Post, Harjo addresses the ongoing treatment of people from Central and South America in our country and the importance of having trusted leaders.

If you are teaching any of Harjo's poetry, Walter Russell Mead's "America's New Tiger Immigrants" in Conversations in American Literature, Frida Kahlo's Self-Portrait on the Borderline between Mexico and the United States," or any other texts with relevant themes, consider sharing Harjo's interview with your students:  ‘Everyone wants a place where they feel safe,’ says Joy Harjo, the first Native American U.S. poet laureate