by Beth Krasemann
History in Their Hands
Teaching Inquiry-Based United States History Through the Lens of Black Agency
An inquiry-based approach to teaching U.S. history through primary sources and the history of Black agency.
History in Their Hands is a practical teacher guide to an inquiry-based US history curriculum that reimagines how we teach American history by centering the voices, actions, and resistance of Black Americans from 1619 to the present. Designed for middle and high school classrooms, the book offers lessons built around primary sources that invite students to investigate historical questions, analyze evidence, and develop their own interpretations of the past.
Each chapter explores a key moment or theme in the history of Black resistance and activism—from the Middle Passage and resistance to slavery through Reconstruction, the Jim Crow era, the Civil Rights Movement, and contemporary activism. By working directly with historical documents, images, and other sources, students examine how Black Americans challenged injustice and shaped the nation’s history.
The lessons are flexible and adaptable. Teachers can use individual inquiries as stand-alone activities, integrate them into existing units, or combine several chapters into a larger course exploring Black agency in United States history.
A companion website provides quick access to all primary sources used in the book, along with glossary lists and additional readings to support classroom use. Every document is ready to project to the classroom or shared with students — no prep required.
