Lesson Plan

Physicist Activist: Dr. Elmer Imes and the Civil Rights Case of Juliette Derricotte

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Elmer Imes was not only a brilliant physicist but also a civil rights activist. After an introductory lecture, groups read two articles about a traffic accident that killed one Fisk University student and injured several others. The articles by Imes and W.E.B. Du Bois reveal how the injured were refused emergency treatment at the local hospital because they were Black. The class then discusses how segregation impacted African Americans and the steps Imes took as a result of the tragedy.

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CCSS: Designed
Instructional Ideas
  • Include the lesson as part of February's Black History Month studies
  • Have groups investigate the charges of inequities in COVID vaccines distribution and vaccination rates
Classroom Considerations
  • Requires copies of the Elmer Imes handout
  • Also requires a set of primary sources for each participant
Pros
  • The packet includes discussion questions and links to primary sources
Cons
  • None