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The Road to Reparations in California: Lessons for the Classroom

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Bring the history of the reparations movement in America into your classroom by exploring a rarely discussed chapter of California history—the hostility toward Black settlements. This adaptation of KQED’s five-part video series The Road to Reparations in California examines how thriving Black communities were systematically dismantled and turned into ghost towns, accompanied by lesson plans to deepen student engagement.

The first video in the series, California Task Force Reparations Study outlines the objectives of California’s Historic Reparations Task Force, providing insight into the international definition of reparations to examine the effects of racism in America. 

Lesson: California Task Force

The second video in the series, Civil Liberties Act of 1988, explores the journey of the Japanese people who experienced incarceration during World War II and illuminates how the civil rights movement led by Black leaders inspired the Japanese American community to lobby for reparations. 

Lesson: Civil Liberties Act of 1988

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In the third video in the series, How Black Californians Lost Their Land, hear stories of thriving Black communities—Bruce’s Beach, the town of Allensworth, San Francisco’s Fillmore district—and others that were destroyed because of government policies. Learn how the effects of displacement and housing discrimination continue to ripple through cities across the United States.

Lesson: How Black Californians Lost Their Land

The fourth video in the series, Displacement of Black Businesses in California, explores the stories of the thriving Black community of San Francisco’s Fillmore district and others that were destroyed because of government policies. The effects of displacement and discrimination continue to ripple through cities across the United States.

Lesson: Displacement of Black Businesses in California 

With the fifth video in the series, What Could Reparations Look Like, consider what reparations would look like today, what they would entail, and successful examples that have set the precedent.

Lesson: What Could Reparations Look Like?

Lesson Plans:

California Task Force to Study Reparations

Civil Liberties Act of 1988

How Black Californians Lost Their Land

Displacement of Black Businesses in California

What Could Reparations Look Like?

© 2023 KQED, San Francisco, CA

 

Teaching Tips & Discussion Questions:

Ken Kusactay (PBS Digital Innovator All-Star) with support from Rachel Roberson and Angel Valerio

Video series funded by:

The California Civil Liberties Program

Executive Producer

Otis R. Taylor Jr.

Senior Producer

Manjula Varghese

Producers

Lakshmi Sarah

Manjula Varghese

Cinematographers

Lakshmi Sarah

Elie M. Khadra

Associate Producer

Masha Pershay

Editors 

Elie M. Khadra

Manjula Varghese

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