Ethnic Studies Counternarratives Part 2: Bayard Rustin & Queer Organizing invites students to examine social movements through an intersectional lens, centering the often-erased contributions of queer leaders within civil rights organizing. Grounded in Ethnic Studies and aligned with the Queer-Affirming principle of Black Lives Matter at School, this lesson challenges dominant narratives that present movements as singular or monolithic.
Designed for grades 6–12, this 50-minute lesson guides students through a sequence of video analysis, discussion, reflection, and creative expression. Students investigate the life and organizing work of Bayard Rustin, analyzing how his identity as a Black queer man shaped both his leadership and the resistance he faced. Through agree/disagree activities and quote analysis, students examine how power, coalition-building, and resistance operate within movements.
Students then engage in a creative component, selecting quotes from queer activists and creating visual or written art that reflects the meaning and impact of those words. This approach supports multiple entry points for student engagement while reinforcing that social change is collective, intersectional, and driven by diverse identities and strategies.
What’s Included
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Slide-based lesson with embedded educator guidance
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Student worksheet for reflection, revision, and creative response
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Media-based learning (videos and quote analysis)
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Agree/disagree formative assessment activities
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Optional school-based extension to support queer and trans students
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Alignment with WAESN Elements of Liberation, Washington State Social Studies Standards, and C3 Framework
Why Educators Use This Lesson
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Centers queer leadership within civil rights history
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Challenges simplified or exclusionary movement narratives
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Supports identity-affirming, intersectional analysis
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Encourages creative expression alongside critical thinking
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Requires minimal preparation with clear instructional scaffolds
This lesson is ideal for educators seeking secondary Ethnic Studies curriculum that uplifts counternarratives, affirms queer identities, and helps students understand social movements as complex, collective, and deeply human.