TeachRock

Motivational Activity:

1. Tell students that in June 2019, the government of New York City held a press conference to announce plans to build a monument dedicated to trans activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. The monument will be erected near the famous Stonewall Inn, which many consider to be the birthplace of the Gay Liberation Movement. Display Image 1, Chirlane McCray Quote, and explain to students that this was a quote by the First Lady to New York City, Chirlane McCray, who spoke at the press conference. Ask students:
   • Based on the quote above, why might New York City be building a monument to Silvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson?
   • Why are monuments important? What do they represent?
   • McCray mentions that the monuments counters “whitewashing” of history. What does she mean by this? What is at risk when history is whitewashed?
   • Can you think of another moment, movement, event, topic, space, or otherwise that has been “whitewashed”? How does this particular form of whitewashing exclude other perspectives?

Procedure:

1. Play Clip 1, The Stonewall Riots. Ask students:
   • What happened at Stonewall?
   • What is the significance of the Stonewall Rebellion? How is it presented in the clip?
   • Do you think this clip relates to McCray’s argument that the remembering of the Stonewall Rebellion has been “whitewashed”? Why or why not?
2. Tell students that they will be learning about some of the pioneers who are often neglected in the history of the Stonewall Rebellion and the Gay Liberation Movement. Pass out to each student Handout 1 – Stonewall Pioneers. 
3. Separate the students into groups, and hand out to each group one of the document sets below:
   • Document Set: Stormé DeLarverie
   • Document Set: Marsha P. Johnson
   • Document Set: Sylvia Rivera
   • Document Set: Miss Major Griffin-Gracy
4. Ask students to go over the document sets as a group, and be prepared to present what they learn to the rest of the class. Then ask each group to share a summary of the documents they read. Students not presenting or sharing their findings to the class should take notes for the figures they did not read about on Handout 1.
5. Play Clip 2, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”. Ask students:
   • What are the origins of discos? What kind of spaces did disco dancing occur in according to the clip?
   • For the LGBTQ+ community, what might have been the message of Sylvester’s chorus, “You make me feel mighty real?”
   • In the clip, David Mixner describes Sylvester as a symbol of “defiance.” What about Sylvester and his music might support this statement? What might Sylvester be defiant against?
   • In his book, The Fabulous Sylvester, author Joshua Gamson mentions that “disco moved gayness, camp, and androgyny even closer to the American mainstream” How might have disco becoming mainstream affected the LGBTQ+ community at the time?
6. Pass out to students Handout 2 – Sylvester Biography. Read the handout out loud, and have students take notes on Handout 1 in the appropriate column.

Summary Activity:

1. Show Image 1, Statement on Happy Birthday Marsha! Tell students that the text displayed is a statement by directors Tourmaline and Sasha Wortzel on their short film Happy Birthday Marsha!, which depicts the life of trans activist Marsha P. Johnson in the hours prior to the Stonewall Rebellion. Have students read the statement silently or out loud as a class. Then ask:
   • What was Tourmaline and Wortzel’s motivation to make Happy Birthday Marsha!?
   • According to their statement, why is it important to revisit stories from the past?
   • How does work like Happy Birthday Marsha! combat erasure?
   • How did the work of activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy pave the way for others? (Encourage students to draw upon the notes they made on Handout 1.)

Extension Activities:

1. Read Tourmaline’s Op-ed for Vogue magazine, “Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson’s Fight to Free Incarcerated Trans Women of Color Is Far From Over.” Write a summary that includes additional research on one of the organizations Tourmaline lists in the op-ed.
2. There has been criticism of the inclusion of police officers and corporate businesses at Pride who use rainbows and LGBTQ+ people in their marketing only for the month of June. On June 30, 2019, the Queer Liberation March, an alternative march to World Pride, was held to honor the original principles and efforts of early LGBTQ+ organizers and activists. Read the Reclaim Pride Coalition’s “Why We March” and their “History Statement.” Write a paper exploring the need for an alternative march and comparing the two events. Students may also incorporate other articles, such as Diana Tourjée’s op-ed “Pride Has Betrayed Us” or social media content such as tweets or Instagram posts relating to the topic.
3. Have students do research on a person from a marginalized community that has been historically ignored. Then, design a monument that represents that person’s contributions and legacy.
4. Watch Happy Birthday Marsha! by Tourmaline and Sasha Wortzel. Write a summary of the short film, incorporating additional research into the life and work of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.
5. Read the New York Times article “Who Owns Gay Street?” here. Write a response considering how the article addresses the concept of whitewashing.
6. Watch the 10 minute short about Miss Major Griffin-Gracy from Vice. Write a one page summary or response.
7. Research other Transgender, Gender Nonconforming (GNC), or Non-Binary activists or public figures of color. Write a paper on their work, contributions, and causes they advocate for. Some activists, public figures, etc. such as:
   • Victoria Cruz
   • Janet Mock
   • Chella Man
   • Alok Vaid-Menon
   • Raquel Willis
   • Jennicet Guiterrez
   • Phillipe Cunnigham
   • Andrea Jenkins
   • Aaron Phillip
   • Ceilia Chung

Document Set: Marsha P. Johnson Document Set: Miss Major Griffin-Gracy Document Set: Stormé DeLarverie Document Set: Sylvia Rivera Handout 1 – Stonewall Pioneers Handout 2 – Sylvester Biography

Common Core State Standards

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading

• Reading 1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
• Craft and Structure 6: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
• Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
• Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 9: Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
• Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity 10: Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Writing (Extension Activities only)

• Text Types and Purposes 1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
• Text Types and Purposes 2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
• Production and Distribution of Writing 4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
• Research to Build and Present Knowledge 7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
• Research to Build and Present Knowledge 8: Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
• Research to Build and Present Knowledge  9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Language

• Language 1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
• Language 2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
• Language 3: Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listing.
• Vocabulary Acquisition and Use 5:  Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in a word meaning.
• Vocabulary Acquisition and Use 6: Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Speaking and Listening

• Comprehension & Collaboration 1:Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
• Comprehension & Collaboration 2: Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
• Comprehension & Collaboration 3: Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
• Presentation of Knowledge 4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies – National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)

• Theme 1: Culture
• Theme 2: Time, Continuity, and Change
• Theme 3: People, Place, and Environments
• Theme 5: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
• Theme 6: Power, Authority, and Governance
• Theme 10: Civic Ideals and Practices

National Standards for Music Education – National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

Core Music Standard: Responding

• Interpret: Support interpretations of musical works that reflect creators’ and/or performers’ expressive intent.
• Evaluate: Support evaluations of musical works and performances based on analysis, interpretation, and established criteria.

Core Music Standard: Connecting

• Connecting 11: Relate musical ideas and works to varied contexts and daily life to deepen understanding.

Career Technical Education Standards (California Model) – Arts, Media and Entertainment Pathway Standards

Design, Visual and Media Arts (A)

• A1.0 Demonstrate ability to reorganize and integrate visual art elements across digital media and design applications.
  A1.1 View and respond to a variety of industry-related artistic products integrating industry appropriate vocabulary.
  A1.4 Select industry-specific works and analyze the intent of the work and the appropriate use of media.
  A1.9 Analyze the material used by a given artist and describe how its use influences the meaning of the work. ia, and Entertainment |
  A3.0 Analyze and assess the impact of history and culture on the development of professional arts and media products.
  A3.2 Describe how the issues of time, place, and cultural influence and are reflected in a variety of artistic products.
  A3.3 Identify contemporary styles and discuss the diverse social, economic, and political developments reflected in art work in an industry setting.
  A4.0 Analyze, assess, and identify effectiveness of artistic products based on elements of art, the principles of design, and professional industry standards.
  A4.2 Deconstruct how beliefs, cultural traditions, and current social, economic, and political contexts influence commercial media (traditional and electronic).
  A4.5 Analyze and articulate how society influences the interpretation and effectiveness of an artistic product.
  A5.0 Identify essential industry competencies, explore commercial applications and develop a career specific personal plan.
  A5.1 Compare and contrast the ways in which different artistic media (television, newspapers, magazines, and electronic media) cover the same commercial content.
  A5.3 Deconstruct works of art, identifying psychological content found in the symbols and images and their relationship to industry and society.

Performing Arts (B)

• B2.0 Read, listen to, deconstruct, and analyze peer and professional music using the elements and terminology of music.
  B2.2 Describe how the elements of music are used.
  B2.5 Analyze and describe significant musical events perceived and remembered in a given industry generated example.
  B2.6 Analyze and describe the use of musical elements in a given professional work that makes it unique, interesting, and expressive.
  B2.7 Demonstrate the different uses of form, both past and present, in a varied repertoire of music in commercial settings from diverse genres, styles, and professional applications.
  B7.0 Analyze the historical and cultural perspective of multiple industry performance products from a discipline-specific perspective.
  B7.1 Identify and compare how film, theater, television, and electronic media productions influence values and behaviors.
  B7.3 Analyze the historical and cultural perspective of the musician in the professional setting.
  B7.4 Analyze the historical and cultural perspective of the actor and performance artist in the professional setting.
  B8.0 Deconstruct the aesthetic values that drive professional performance and the artistic elements necessary for industry production.
  B8.1 Critique discipline-specific professional works using the language and terminology specific to the discipline.
  B8.2 Use selected criteria to compare, contrast, and assess various professional performance forms.
  B8.3 Analyze the aesthetic principles that apply in a professional work designed for live performance, film, video, or live broadcast.
  B8.4 Use complex evaluation criteria and terminology to compare and contrast a variety of genres of professional performance products.