Teaching Guide Asian American Social Justice Leaders
- Grade Level 3rd-5th Grade
- Time Period 1930 - Present
Introduction
This resource set highlights Asian American social justice and civil rights leaders, including Grace Lee Boggs and Yuri Kochiyama, and explores their activism, contributions, and the context of racial tensions during events like the LA Riots. Students will engage with primary and secondary sources, documentaries, and literature to understand the impact of Asian American leaders in the fight for equality and justice.
LESSON PLANS
Noreen Naseem Rodriguez: “The Faces of the Asian American Civil Rights Movement” (Grades 4-6)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
APA Center Smithsonian: “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to Include in Critical Conversations: Yuri Kochiyama” (Click through tiles)
APA Center Smothsonian: “Folk Hero: Remembering Yuri Kochiyama Through Grassroots Art”
Asian Americans for Equality: “Our History”
Facing History: “Remembering Grace Lee Boggs”
BOOK
Book: “Leaders Like Us: Grace Lee Boggs” by Karen Su and Arlo Li
DOCUMENTARIES
Women Make Movies: Yuri Kochiyama: A Passion for Justice (paid resource)
Women Make Movies: Mountains That Take Wing: Angela Davis & Yuri Kochiyam (paid resource)
Essential Questions
Who are Asian American leaders who have fought for racial and social justice?