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Lesson Plan, Unit Plan :

Lesson Plan, Unit Plan Cross-Racial Solidarity Movements & the Formation of the Asian American Identity

  • Grade Level 9th-12th Grade
  • Time Period 1950 - Present
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Introduction

This unit plan holds three lessons that trace the birth and rise of Asian American identity and activism during and after the Civil Rights Movement. Students explore how Asian American activists drew inspiration from Black movements, built cross-racial coalitions, and developed the Yellow Power Movement to demand ethnic studies and broader political change. The lesson emphasizes the importance of intersectionality, examining gender and layered identities within activist spaces. Through guided slides, discussions, music, media analysis, and reflection prompts, students critically engage with the political roots and evolving identity of the Asian American movement.
Lesson 1: Civil Rights and the Birth of the “Asian American” Identity
Lesson 2: The Rise of the Asian American Movement
Lesson 3: Asian Americans against the Vietnam War (and Other Forms of Protest)

Essential Questions

  • What does it mean to be in solidarity with other communities of color?

  • In the United States, how have Asian Americans been used to further marginalize Black and Brown communities?

  • How has interracial solidarity benefitted Asian Americans and vice versa?

  • What is the value of fostering solidarity with one another?

  • How can you be in solidarity with other communities?