I first learned about oral history while taking “Introduction to African and African American Studies” during my first year at the University of Virginia (UVA).

Mrs. Patricia Ramón was undeniably an influential and inspiring English teacher. Her many accolades and teacher awards evidence this.

In her TED Talk “The danger of a single story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie states that the flattening, dehumanizing effect of a single story is extricable from the concept of power.

Part of what I really liked about the oral histories is the human element. It’s one thing to learn about a famous person in a textbook. It makes things impressively relevant to hear stories passed down over time.

At the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year I will be sending a letter to fourth grade parents to share my experience with Teachers in the Movement at UVA, 2020.

In August, I was fortunate to attend a 3 day Professional Development institute led by Teachers in the Movement, which covered Black history and current events, and how to teach a more inclusive history course.  

Through my work on the Teachers in the Movement project, I observed one thing that is always present when someone is achieving a goal they desire, and that is strong community support.

Mrs. Flora Crittenden is a remarkable woman who positively impacted her students and community throughout her lifetime. She worked as an educator, guidance counselor, and politician during the Civil Rights Movement.

The Teachers in the Movement Institute empowered me not only as an educator but also as a Black woman in America. The power of the voice was a constant theme woven seamlessly throughout the week’s activities.

Throughout the week at the Teachers in the Movement Summer Institute, we read articles, heard lectures, and discussed the topic of how the Civil Rights Movement is taught in schools.