Zinn Education Project continues teaching the “People’s History,” thanks to CREDO members

The Zinn Education Project (ZEP) introduces students to a more accurate and engaging understanding of history than is found in traditional textbooks and curricula. The project (coordinated by Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change) equips students with analytical tools to make sense of and improve the world today.

In May, CREDO members voted to distribute $51,675 to ZEP to help the group engage more teachers in its Teach Climate Justice, Teach Reconstruction, and Teaching for Black Lives campaigns — and help them offer students a more honest history of our country.CREDO also partnered with ZEP to conduct an informal survey asking about our members’ experiences learning Black history in school and how that informs their views about systemic racism, voter suppression and white supremacy. You can check out the results of this survey here, which included input from more than 5,000 CREDO members.

Here’s a quick highlight of how CREDO funding is helping the Zinn Education Project further its mission: Lawmakers in at least 28 states are attempting to pass legislation that would require teachers to lie to students about the role of racism, sexism, heterosexism, and oppression throughout U.S. history. In response, educators across the United States are signing a pledge to teach truth, and thanks to CREDO support, ZEP mobilized and supported teachers and allies across the country with Teach Truth Pledge Days of Action in June and August, events to raise public awareness about these dangerous bills. These events were held in dozens of cities across the country and received widespread press coverage, including in The Washington Post, Mother Jones, Axios and Mashable.

If you’d like to learn more and get involved with ZEP, please visit their website, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.