Culture in the Classroom

written by: Dr. Cornelia Smith, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

While walking through the halls of Liberty Middle School, a display of student work caught my attention. Rachel Harris, an eighth grade Social Studies teacher at Liberty Middle School recently granted her students the power to use the magic of AI to transform abolitionists who lived several lifetimes past into futuristic superheroes. I was intrigued.

In the 1820’s the institution of slavery was a source of division and discontent for the country. The abolitionist movement started on the east coast and slowly made its way into the deep south, where it was met with opposition. These brave men and women, black and white, had an unbeknownst generational impact on millions of Americans.

“I thought more about how this really fits into the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion. DEI is more than ethnicity…it is all the things. The best education I received is through travel, and there are tons of opportunities for teachers to travel and engage in an immersive cultural experience.”

This past summer, sponsored by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Harris travelled to Colgate University in Hamilton, NY where the group then journeyed throughout New York and to Vermont and Massachusetts. Led by historical experts on the subjects, she studied Abolitionism and the Underground Railroad.

After the Civil War, in an attempt to bring the states back together, and integrate formerly enslaved people into society, the Reconstruction Period emerged. It lasted from 1863 until 1877. Black people were elected to political positions not attainable before. This newfound voice struck a chord of terror for the former confederacy and many others who favored the old guard and white supremacy.

In 2022 on a trip to Beaufort, SC, one of the many highlights for Harris was attending a private dinner at the home of Robert Smalls, an enslaved man who commandeered a Confederate ship and sailed it to the Union forces in Charleston Bay. Elected to the South Carolina Senate and U.S. House of Representatives during the Reconstruction period, Smalls eventually purchased the home of his enslaver, now listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Also because of Alton’s proximity to Missouri, enslaved people attempted to cross the river to a land where they hoped to find freedom.

Nearby Mississippi river town, Alton, IL was highlighted and this brought back memories for Harris, as she learned about her hometown and its fascinating history in school. Although known as a “free state”, enslaved people as well as abolitionists, are very much a part of the state’s history. The Illinois constitution permitted slavery in the salt mines of southern Illinois until 1865.

Alton abolitionist Elijah P. Lovejoy was featured in this presentation. “I felt like a celebrity because I am from Alton.” This was a full circle moment for Harris. Meeting a descendant of Harriet Tubman and visiting Tubman’s grave was the icing on the cake.

Including resources from local educators around Madison County, Harris further developed her Underground Railroad unit, creating a “tour like” experience for students, as these familiar locations bring the lessons to life for students. 

An engaging culminating activity for students was using AI (artificial intelligence), to transform abolitionists of yesteryear into futuristic superheroes. Harris and fellow eighth grade teacher, Kelli Bruce, piqued the interest of students and created an unforgettable learning experience- allowing them to travel through time to breathe new life into real American heroes from diverse backgrounds, working for a common cause: freedom.