This is a program that ran on National Television in 1963 and was designed to help teachers deal with prejudice. It showed hoe to use photographs and audio to help students to analyze deeply ingrained prejudices.

The professor uses some of the work of the Works Progress Administration, the WPA, who in the 1930s, paid professionals to record the narratives of former slaves like what is heard here. Amazing and authentic.

The WPA, as part of its Federal Writers' Project, undertook a massive oral history effort during the 1930s to document the experiences of former slaves. This project interviewed thousands of people who had been enslaved, capturing their stories, life experiences, and reflections on slavery and freedom. I feel that these narratives are a crucial primary source for understanding the history of slavery in the United States.

The WPA slave narratives are primary historical documents that provide firsthand accounts of slavery. They are valuable for understanding this period in American history, offering perspectives that are not often found in traditional textbooks. These narratives, while invaluable, were collected during a time when the former slaves were quite old, and the interviews were conducted within the social and racial context of the 1930s. This context can influence how the narratives were recorded and are presented.
The title “Lay My Burden Down" refers to a book that compiled some of these narratives. "Lay My Burden Down: A Folk History of Slavery.” The title is derived from a spiritual song and symbolizes the release from the hardships of slavery.
The WPA slave narratives have been used extensively in educational settings to provide firsthand accounts of the experiences of enslaved people. These narratives have been instrumental in teaching about slavery, African American history, and the oral history tradition.
Critical Race Theory is a framework used primarily in legal studies that examines the relationship between race, law, and power. The controversy in places like Florida often revolves around perceptions of CRT and its applicability in K12 education. Some argue that CRT is not taught in K12 schools, while others are concerned about any curriculum they believe might be derived from or influenced by CRT principles. In April 2023 Florida had passed legislation and set educational policies that affect how race, history, and related topics are taught in schools. This includes laws that restrict certain ways of teaching about race and history that are seen as aligned with CRT.
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Thank you
David Hoffman