midterm unique

Midterm overview

Digital Biographies: Black Historical Figures Project-Midterm 

Project Overview

Students will research a Black historical figure from Africa, the Americas, or the Caribbean and create a digital product showcasing their contributions, legacy, and cultural impact. This project emphasizes diverse representation, including Afro-Latinx and Caribbean figures often underrepresented in society.

The formats that you can use are listed in module seven under project format options. You can always use this 
link to access the complete document. 

 

Learning Objectives

· Conduct in-depth historical research using primary and secondary sources

· Analyze the cultural, social, and political contexts of historical figures

· Create professional digital content using appropriate technology tools

· Develop critical thinking about representation and historical narratives

· Practice digital literacy and media creation skills

Project Timeline

Total Duration: 3-4 weeks

·
Week 1: Research and source gathering

·
Week 2: Content development and outline creation

·
Week 3: Source submission and product development 

·
Week 4: Digital product creation and submission

Part 1: Selecting a Historical Figure

Requirements

Students can choose ONE figure from the provided categories. Each student should select a different person to ensure diverse representation across the class. If more than two people have selected a historical figure, please select another person. If you want to cover someone who isn’t listed, please email me to confirm your selection. 

Category A: Afro-Latinx Historical Figures

·
Gaspar Yanga (Mexico) – Leader of the first free African settlement in the Americas

·
José Leonardo Chirino (Venezuela) – Leader of the 1795 slave rebellion

·
Vicente Guerrero (Mexico)- First Black Mexican President

·
Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (Puerto Rico/USA) – Historian and curator of Black history

·
Juana Ramírez (Venezuela) – Independence war heroine

·
Victoria Santa Cruz (Peru) – Poet, choreographer, and Afro-Peruvian cultural activist

·
Adalberto Ortiz (Ecuador) – Afro-Ecuadorian writer and diplomat

·
Beatriz Nascimento (Brazil) – Historian and quilombo researcher

·
Lélia Gonzalez (Brazil) – Intellectual and founder of Black feminism in Brazil

·
Juan Gualberto Gómez (Cuba) – Journalist and independence activist

·
Esteban Montejo (Cuba) – Former enslaved person and centenarian storyteller

Category B: Caribbean Historical Figures

·
Toussaint Louverture (Haiti) – Revolutionary leader of Haitian Revolution

·
Nanny of the Maroons (Jamaica) – Leader of Jamaican Maroons

·
Samuel Sharpe (Jamaica) – Baptist deacon and rebel leader

·
Claudia Jones (Trinidad/UK) – Journalist and civil rights activist

·
Marcus Garvey (Jamaica) – Pan-Africanist leader

·
Walter Rodney (Guyana) – Historian and political activist

·
Aimé Césaire (Martinique) – Poet and politician, founder of Négritude movement

·
C.L.R. James (Trinidad) – Historian, journalist, and socialist

·
Frantz Fanon (Martinique) – Psychiatrist, philosopher, and revolutionary

·
Jean-Jacques Dessalines (Haiti) – First ruler of independent Haiti

·
Mary Seacole (Jamaica/UK) – Nurse and businesswoman in the Crimean War

·
Bob Marley (Jamaica) – Musician and cultural icon

Category C: African and African American Historical Figures

·
Harriet Tubman – Abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor

·
Frederick Douglass – Abolitionist, orator, and writer

·
Sojourner Truth – Abolitionist and women’s rights activist

·
Ida B. Wells – Journalist and anti-lynching activist

·
Booker T. Washington – Educator and advisor

·
W.E.B. Du Bois – Sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist

·
Zora Neale Hurston – Anthropologist and author

·
Bayard Rustin – Civil rights organizer

·
Fannie Lou Hamer – Voting rights activist

·
Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana) – Pan-Africanist and first Prime Minister/President

·
Patrice Lumumba (Congo) – Independence leader and first Prime Minister

·
Queen Nzinga (Angola) – 17th-century warrior queen

·
Yaa Asantewaa (Ghana) – Queen Mother and military leader

Part 2: Research Requirements

Essential Research Components

Students must gather information on the following:

1.
Biographical Information

· Birth and death dates/locations

· Family background and early life

· Education and formative experiences

2.
Historical Context

· Time period and major historical events

· Social, political, and economic conditions

· Cultural environment and influences

3.
Major Contributions

· Key accomplishments and achievements

· Leadership roles and positions held

· Specific actions or works created

4.
Challenges and Obstacles

· Forms of oppression or resistance faced

· Personal struggles and how they were overcome

· Opposition encountered

5.
Legacy and Impact

· Immediate effects of their work

· Long-term influence on society

· Contemporary relevance

· How they’re remembered today

6.
Primary and Secondary Sources

· Minimum 3 primary sources (speeches, letters, photographs, documents)

· Minimum 3 secondary sources (books, scholarly articles, documentaries)

· At least 2 sources must be from academic databases or scholarly publications

Research Documentation

Students must maintain an 
Annotated Bibliography including:

· Full citation in MLA  format

· 2-3 sentence summary of each source

· 2-3 sentence evaluation of its impact or effectiveness

· 2-3 sentence reflection on how it will be useful to your project