Depth Study 2: Investigating rights and freedoms require students to have an understanding of the extent to which the American Civil Rights Movement influenced Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander activists in Australia. In particular, students need to investigate the methods used by African Americans in the lead up to the 1964 Civil Rights Act which was passed under President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The Library of Congress published a free resource in 2014 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. The resource contains a plethora of primary sources which focus on the impact of segregation on African Americans and the various methods they employed to fight for equality. The Idea Book for Educators contains numerous teaching ideas designed to engage students in this important subject. Students can also access various interviews through the Library of Congress to investigate the role music and songs played in the shaping of the civil rights movement. Printing class sets of this resource will provide teachers with a ready 'text' of primary resources which will set the context for Depth Study 2: Investigating Rights and Freedoms.