Dana S. Altshuler
For Teachers
Books
Yehuda Bauer. A History of the Holocaust Revised Edition. (New York: Franklin Watts, 2001): This book provides background information about the Holocaust such as: the roots of Anti-Semitism; World War One and its aftermath; and Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. The book includes maps, charts, illustrations, and pictures helpful in teaching the Holocaust.
Richard Bulliet, Pamela Kyle Crossley, Daniel R. Headrick, Steven W. Hirsch, Lyman L. Johnson, David Northup. The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997): This is a World history book that provides background information about the world in the post WWI years.
Leslie Feinberg. Transgender Warriors. (Boston, Beacon Press, 1996): This book is both an historical account and a dedication to members of the worldwide Transgender community. Feinberg successfully uncovers evidence that there have always been people who crossed the cultural boundaries of gender.
Lorie McElroy-Jenkins, edit. Voices of the Holocaust. (Detroit: UXL, an imprint of Gale, 1998): This book is comprised of 34 documents written by the people whose lives were impacted by the events of the Holocaust. Documents include: autobiographical essays, diary entries, newspaper articles, court transcripts, and letters.
Gary Nash, Julie Roy Jeffrey, John R. Howe, Peter Frederick, Allen F. Davis, and Allan M. Winkler. The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society. (New York: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 1998): This is an American history book that provides background information about the United States in the post WWI years.
Richard Plant. The Pink Triangle. (New York: Owl Books, 1988): This is one of the first publications to record the fate of homosexuals in Nazi Germany. The book reveals how the anti-homosexual campaign was conducted and shares the stories of the victims.
Samantha Power. A Problem from Hell. (New York: HarperCollins, 2002): This book discusses the problem of genocide in the 20th century. Powers offers incite about the roots of conflict. She exposes U.S. leaders' lack of intervention and proposes the need for U.S. leaders to take accountability in preventing future instances of genocide.
Mary Swigonski, Robin Sakina Mama, Kelly Ward, edit. From Hate Crimes to Human rights: A tribute to Matthew Shepard. (New York: Harringon Park Press, 2001): Inspired by the tragedy of Matthew Shepard's murder, the editors have compiled a book of essays. The book focuses on the ways that bigotry generates hate crimes and proposes positive courses of action that promote human rights.
Articles
Becky Albitz
.
"Dude, Where are My Civil Rights?"
(
The Journal of Academic Librarianship
Vol. 31 Issue 3, 2005: 284): This article discusses the impact of the Patriot Act on the freedom of information.
Sig Christenson. "Truth and Trust: In Iraq War Coverage, They've Become Casualties."(
Nieman Reports
Summer 2005, Vol. 59 Issue 2, p6, 6p): This article reports on the relationship between the media and the military during times of war.
David Cortright. "Iraq: The Human Toll." (
The Nation.
August 1, 2005): This article presents the Iraqi war from the Iraqi perspective. It reports on the impact of war on Iraqi civilians.
Chad Graham. "Gay in the red states." (
Advocate
Issue 932 Feb 2005: 34):This article discusses how the LGBT community of Oklahoma strives to live openly, and fight for their rights amidst banning of gay rights law in the state. In 2004, Oklahoma was one of 11 states that passed a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
"Maryland governor vetoes lesbian, gay rights bill." (
Off Our Backs Vol. 35
Issue 5 May 2005: 9): This article discusses Maryland's governor, Robert L. Ehrlich's, veto involving the bill on lesbians and gay men rights. The bill would have given lesbian and gay men rights such as visiting partners in the hospital and making health care decisions for each other.
Kiara Vigil. "How American is it? Charles Eastman's Autobiographical Construction of Manhood." (Dartmouth College: Introduction to Master's Thesis, 2005): In the introduction to her Master's Thesis, Vigil explores the influence of gender and race on the autobiographical writings of Charles Eastman.
Media
VHS:
The Propaganda Wars: Japan & the U.S. and the Battle for Hearts and Minds
(1994): This History Channel documentary demonstrates the influence of propaganda on both Japanese and American citizens during WWII.
For Students
Readings
George Bush. "Address to the Nation"(September 20, 2001): On September 20th, 2001, President Bush delivered his Address to the Nation. In this speech the President tells the nation and the world, "either you are with us or you are with the terrorists." Throughout the speech President Bush uses G-D and nation to unify Americans. He instructs Americans to "uphold the values of America." In his address the President establishes an Us versus Them ideology by categorizing the terrorists as "enemies of freedom" and "enemies of America." This speech is a successful example of the use of nationalism in building a common enemy and ultimately promoting American citizenry support to go to war.
Leslie Feinberg. Stone Butch Blues (Los Angeles, California: Alyson Books, 2003): This book documents the experiences of a transgender person named Jess, from teenager to adulthood. Transgender refers to any human being who defines their own gender identity regardless of chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role. Jess's story is powerful, because it offers information of what life was like for sexual minorities in the United States from the 1960s and into the 1980s.
Martin Luther. The Jews and Their Lies (http://www.fordam.edu/halsall/source/luther-jews.html, 2003): This excerpt was written in Medieval Europe in 1543. To teach the Holocaust successfully teachers must begin by looking at the roots of Anti-Semitism throughout Europe's history. In Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, he talks about exterminating the European Jewry. His ideas were not original. By reading Martin Luther's, The Jews and Their Lies (1543), you find the use of almost identical Anti-Semitic language. These seeds of hatred are what allowed the Holocaust to occur.
Christopher Reardon. "American Gothic: A New Curriculum Explores a Disturbing Side of the Progressive Era." (
Teaching Tolerance,
Spring 2003, 18): This article will introduce students to Eugenics. Eugenics means the science of race, and it promoted the idea that one race is superior to other races of people. It is important for students to be informed that in the early part of the 20th century many American scientists and scholars developed the Eugenics movement, which Adolf Hitler (the future Furher of Germany) makes reference to in his book, Mein Kampf.
Media
VHS:
Before Stonewall
(1984): The documentary, directed by John Scagliotti and Greta Schiller, will introduce students to many positive contributions made by members of the Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual Transgender community during the Harlem Renaissance, on the battlefields of the World Wars, and during the Civil Rights Movement.
VHS:
Prelude to War
(1943): The film, produced by Frank Capra, is a World War II US government film that defines the various enemies of the Allies and why they must be fought.
VHS:
The Music Man
(1962): The movie, directed by Morton DaCosta, is about a con man that comes to River City. The character, Prof. Hill, utilizes tactics to capture the hearts and mind of the citizens of this midwestern town.
Music: Anti-Flag,
Mobilize: Anatomy of Your Enemy
(2002): You can use an Internet search engine and enter the name of the band and then the name of the song to find the lyrics to use in your lesson. The song lyrics discuss the use of government tactics of nationalism during a time of war. Additionally, the song discusses the powerful role of the media during times of war.
Materials for Classroom Activities
Copies of "American Gothic: A New Curriculum Explores a Disturbing Side of the Progressive Era." (Eugenics article)
Copies of The Jews and Their Lies excerpt
Copies Stone Butch Blues excerpt
Copies of "Address to the Nation"
Copies of Japanese Internment Camp Article (use the internet to find personal accounts)
Copies of "What is Propaganda Worksheet" (produced by the teacher)
Copy of lyrics to
Anatomy of Your Enemy,
by Anti-Flag
LCD projector with power point of Nazi propaganda (produced by the teacher)
CD player and the song,
Anatomy of Your Enemy
