COINTELPRO: Teaching the FBI's War on the Black Freedom Movement

Overview

Teaching Activity: Developed by Ursula Wolfe-Rocca, published by Rethinking Schools.
Duration: 29 pages of content focusing on the FBI's COINTELPRO campaign.
Period: 20th Century, with a focus on events between 1961 and 1975.
Themes: African American history, Civil Rights Movements, Democracy, Racism, and Citizenship.

A counterintelligence program by the FBI aimed at spying on, infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting Black activist movements and other civil rights organizations.
Poor coverage in mainstream educational resources such as textbooks.
Offers lessons on concepts like the rule of law, civil liberties, social protest, and due process.

Involves examining primary source FBI documents.
Encourages discussions connecting historical events to current issues like the Black Lives Matter movement.

Malik Ali (California): COINTELPRO lesson used as a capstone in a Civil Rights/Black Power unit. Students were deeply engaged with primary documents, enhancing their understanding and critical thinking.
Hope Koumentakos (Maryland): Implemented with 9th-grade U.S. History students using documentary and document analysis. Led to student discussions on historical and current parallels.
Deborah Pless (Washington): Experiential learning through a gallery walk of leaked documents. Enhanced comprehension and engagement in students who struggle with traditional learning.
Maria Turner (New York): Emphasized the importance of telling the truth about American history beyond what is typically covered in textbooks.
Brandon Grijalva (Illinois): Lessons electrified students, connecting them to real-world issues and enhancing engagement with history and contemporary issues.
Erica Stefanovich (Pennsylvania): Focused on the narrative shaping and its role in understanding historical events, correcting misconceptions about the Civil Rights Movement.

Zinn Education Project: An essential resource for teaching about race and history in America.
Workshops and Conferences: Materials presented at conferences like the NCSS are incorporated into teaching to provide a broader perspective.

Graphic art related to COINTELPRO by Stacey Uy is available for educational purposes.

The COINTELPRO lesson provides students with a comprehensive view of an often overlooked part of American history, fostering critical analysis and engagement with both historical and current social issues.