Training Topics

This interactive workshop dives into the history of racist laws and policies in the United States and their enduring impact on education, health, wealth, and economic opportunities for people of color. Together, we’ll examine how specific laws, policies, and practices—spanning from slavery and Reconstruction to Jim Crow and redlining—were intentionally designed to disenfranchise marginalized communities and create long-standing structural inequalities.

Participants will work collaboratively to reconstruct historical timelines, shedding light on key events and policies that shaped current systems. This examination is critical to understanding the connection between past policies and present disparities, fostering a deeper awareness of how intentional disenfranchisement continues to shape modern inequities. Through reflection and discussion, we’ll explore ways to use this knowledge to advocate for equity and dismantle structural barriers in our classrooms, organizations, and communities.

Workshop Goals:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of racist policies and laws in U.S. history and their ongoing impact.

• Create collaborative historical timelines to visualize and contextualize key events and their long-term consequences.

• Encourage open discussion about current inequalities, bridging history with the present.

• Empower participants to recognize and challenge structural inequities in their schools, organizations, communities, and beyond.

This workshop is ideal for educators, community leaders, students, and anyone interested in deepening their knowledge of U.S. history and its ties to current social justice issues.