Turn and Talk: What do we already know about Marian Anderson, Melba Liston, and Mahalia Jackson? (Do a picture walk of the parts of each book that touch on their responses to prejudice)
Ask students: How do these musicians use their music to overcome prejudice?
- Marian: didn’t give up even when the music school wouldn’t accept her, sang at the March on Washington even though she was nervous about it
- Melba: played in the band in the South even though she wasn’t allows into some places, she put her feelings about prejudice into her music
- Mahalia: doesn’t give up on her dreams even though it’s hard, sings at the March on Washington to help other people find their voices
Explain to students that these women taught us that music can help people overcome prejudice. Today we all get to be like Mahalia because we’re going to be artists and art has the power to change the world and make it better just like Mahalia’s music did. We’re going to get in a time machine and go back to pretend we’re at the March on Washington. Lots of the people there were carrying protest signs – a kind of art - that they were using to try to change people’s minds about segregation.
Show examples of protest signs. For each sign ask the following:
- What do you notice?
- How many words are there?
- What do the pictures show?
- How does it make you feel?
- What does the sign want to change?
Turn and Talk: If you were at the March on Washington, what would you want to change?
Each student will receive a blank piece of paper to sketch with pencil their sign. Each must include an image and a phrase. Model and circulate to make sure that students only use a few words. After students have done a first draft in pencil you can give them markers to trace their words and color in their posters.
Once most students have completed their signs, clean up markers. Have students hold their signs and pretend to be at the March on Washington by walking around the room with their signs. If time allows, introduce the idea of protest chants.