Question
How Does One Person’s Life Impact History?
Required Materials
Word processing software
Graphic design software (optional)
Timeline creation software (optional)
Many of the Black community leaders you’ve learned about in this unit had life experiences leading up to them becoming the famous figures we know today. In this activity, you will choose one prominent Black American leader who shaped the American experience in the 1970s to early 2000s and create a timeline of the major milestones in their life, describing how these life events impacted their work in the Black community.
Step 1: Choose a Leader
Your Black American leader can be a leader mentioned in the unit such as John H. Johnson, Muhammad Ali, Fannie Lou Hamer, Earl G. Graves, Barbara Jordan, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Michael Jordan, etc. You may also choose another prominent Black American figure during this time.
Keep Your Cumulative Project in Mind!
While you can choose any important Black American figure covered in this unit (or another prominent Black American during these years), we strongly recommend choosing someone related to your proposed cumulative project topic. You will finalize your cumulative topic in the next unit, so you may use this activity as a way to confirm your interest in your proposed topic by choosing a figure who relates to that topic. This unit covered a lot of politicians, but entertainers/artists, writers, designers, activists, religious figures, etc. are all good choices to examine here.
Step 2: Create a Timeline
Using word processing software, graphic design software, or a dedicated timeline-creation software, create a new timeline document that will house significant milestones in your figure’s life. Do not populate the timeline with information yet; you will do that in Step 4.
Step 3: Research
Conduct some online research about your figure. Identify at least SEVEN significant milestones in their life that affected their work. While the milestones will vary depending on the figure you choose, things you may consider adding are:
Their birth
Time living in a specific city/region that influenced their activities
Founding/joining major organizations
Academic achievements (if relevant to their careers/contributions)—graduating from a prestigious school, earning a specific degree, etc.
Domestic events—marriage, children, etc.
Legislative achievements—sponsoring legislation, etc.
Participating in significant protests
Attaining specific roles/offices/appointments—Secretary of State, presidential candidate, etc.
Athletic or artistic achievements
Major speeches, televised appearances, or similar media coverage
Their death (if it was significant or contributed to their legacy)
Step 4: Add Milestones to Your Timeline
Add each milestone to your timeline using a general title such as “Married, 1958.”
Step 5: Describe the Milestones
Now it’s time to add a little more information about why each milestone was significant. For each milestone, include one or two sentences describing the major achievements of your figure and how their contributions have shaped the Black American experience.
Required Materials
Word processing software
Graphic design software (optional)
Timeline creation software (optional)
Many of the Black community leaders you’ve learned about in this unit had life experiences leading up to them becoming the famous figures we know today. In this activity, you will choose one prominent Black American leader who shaped the American experience in the 1970s to early 2000s and create a timeline of the major milestones in their life, describing how these life events impacted their work in the Black community.
Step 1: Choose a Leader
Your Black American leader can be a leader mentioned in the unit such as John H. Johnson, Muhammad Ali, Fannie Lou Hamer, Earl G. Graves, Barbara Jordan, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Michael Jordan, etc. You may also choose another prominent Black American figure during this time.
Keep Your Cumulative Project in Mind!
While you can choose any important Black American figure covered in this unit (or another prominent Black American during these years), we strongly recommend choosing someone related to your proposed cumulative project topic. You will finalize your cumulative topic in the next unit, so you may use this activity as a way to confirm your interest in your proposed topic by choosing a figure who relates to that topic. This unit covered a lot of politicians, but entertainers/artists, writers, designers, activists, religious figures, etc. are all good choices to examine here.
Step 2: Create a Timeline
Using word processing software, graphic design software, or a dedicated timeline-creation software, create a new timeline document that will house significant milestones in your figure’s life. Do not populate the timeline with information yet; you will do that in Step 4.
Step 3: Research
Conduct some online research about your figure. Identify at least SEVEN significant milestones in their life that affected their work. While the milestones will vary depending on the figure you choose, things you may consider adding are:
Their birth
Time living in a specific city/region that influenced their activities
Founding/joining major organizations
Academic achievements (if relevant to their careers/contributions)—graduating from a prestigious school, earning a specific degree, etc.
Domestic events—marriage, children, etc.
Legislative achievements—sponsoring legislation, etc.
Participating in significant protests
Attaining specific roles/offices/appointments—Secretary of State, presidential candidate, etc.
Athletic or artistic achievements
Major speeches, televised appearances, or similar media coverage
Their death (if it was significant or contributed to their legacy)
Step 4: Add Milestones to Your Timeline
Add each milestone to your timeline using a general title such as “Married, 1958.”
Step 5: Describe the Milestones
Now it’s time to add a little more information about why each milestone was significant. For each milestone, include one or two sentences describing the major achievements of your figure and how their contributions have shaped the Black American experience.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here's a suggested outline for creating a timeline of a prominent Black American leader who shaped the American experience in the 1970s to early 2000s. For this example, I will choose **Barack Obama**, as his contributions to politics and society are significant throughout this period.
### Step 1: Choose a Leader
**Leader**: Barack Obama
### Step 2: Create a Timeline
Use your preferred software to prepare a timeline layout that can accommodate various milestones.
### Step 3: Research Significant Milestones
1. **Birth, August 4, 1961** - Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
2. **Education at Harvard Law School, 1988** - Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review.
3. **Community Organizer in Chicago, 1985-1988** - Worked as a community organizer in Chicago, focusing on issues such as housing and economic justice, which shaped his later political platforms.
4. **State Senator of Illinois, 1997-2004** - Elected to the Illinois State Senate, where he gained experience and visibility on issues affecting the community.
5. **U.S. Senate Election, 2004** - Elected to the U.S. Senate, delivering a keynote address at the Democratic Convention that brought him national recognition.
6. **Presidential Election, 2008** - Elected as the first Black president of the United States, symbolizing a significant milestone in American history and inspiring many in the Black community.
7. **Affordable Care Act, 2010** - Signed the ACA into law, which aimed to reduce healthcare costs for millions of Americans, impacting the health and wellbeing of many in the African American community.
### Step 4: Add Milestones to Your Timeline
- Birth, 1961
- Education at Harvard Law School, 1988
- Community Organizer in Chicago, 1985-1988
- State Senator of Illinois, 1997-2004
- U.S. Senate Election, 2004
- Presidential Election, 2008
- Affordable Care Act, 2010
### Step 5: Describe the Milestones
1. **Birth, August 4, 1961**: Barack Obama’s diverse background, with a Kenyan father and an American mother, provided him with a unique perspective on race and identity from an early age.
2. **Education at Harvard Law School, 1988**: Graduating magna cum laude and serving as the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review positioned Obama as a respected leader and thinker, ultimately leading to his involvement in political activism.
3. **Community Organizer in Chicago, 1985-1988**: His work as a community organizer focused on economic and social justice issues, laying the groundwork for his future political career and deepening his understanding of the challenges faced by the Black community.
4. **State Senator of Illinois, 1997-2004**: As a state senator, he built alliances and tackled issues such as health care and education, showcasing his commitment to improving the lives of his constituents.
5. **U.S. Senate Election, 2004**: His keynote address during the Democratic National Convention captured national attention, highlighting issues of unity and hope, which resonated with many Americans and increased his influence.
6. **Presidential Election, 2008**: Obama’s election as the first Black president was a historic moment, representing a significant breakthrough in American politics and inspiring a new generation of Black leaders and activists.
7. **Affordable Care Act, 2010**: The ACA aimed to provide affordable healthcare to millions, significantly impacting the health outcomes of Black Americans and addressing longstanding disparities in access to care.
### Conclusion
This timeline can be formatted visually using the chosen software, allowing for a clear and engaging presentation of Barack Obama's life milestones and their impact on the Black American experience.
### Step 1: Choose a Leader
**Leader**: Barack Obama
### Step 2: Create a Timeline
Use your preferred software to prepare a timeline layout that can accommodate various milestones.
### Step 3: Research Significant Milestones
1. **Birth, August 4, 1961** - Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
2. **Education at Harvard Law School, 1988** - Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review.
3. **Community Organizer in Chicago, 1985-1988** - Worked as a community organizer in Chicago, focusing on issues such as housing and economic justice, which shaped his later political platforms.
4. **State Senator of Illinois, 1997-2004** - Elected to the Illinois State Senate, where he gained experience and visibility on issues affecting the community.
5. **U.S. Senate Election, 2004** - Elected to the U.S. Senate, delivering a keynote address at the Democratic Convention that brought him national recognition.
6. **Presidential Election, 2008** - Elected as the first Black president of the United States, symbolizing a significant milestone in American history and inspiring many in the Black community.
7. **Affordable Care Act, 2010** - Signed the ACA into law, which aimed to reduce healthcare costs for millions of Americans, impacting the health and wellbeing of many in the African American community.
### Step 4: Add Milestones to Your Timeline
- Birth, 1961
- Education at Harvard Law School, 1988
- Community Organizer in Chicago, 1985-1988
- State Senator of Illinois, 1997-2004
- U.S. Senate Election, 2004
- Presidential Election, 2008
- Affordable Care Act, 2010
### Step 5: Describe the Milestones
1. **Birth, August 4, 1961**: Barack Obama’s diverse background, with a Kenyan father and an American mother, provided him with a unique perspective on race and identity from an early age.
2. **Education at Harvard Law School, 1988**: Graduating magna cum laude and serving as the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review positioned Obama as a respected leader and thinker, ultimately leading to his involvement in political activism.
3. **Community Organizer in Chicago, 1985-1988**: His work as a community organizer focused on economic and social justice issues, laying the groundwork for his future political career and deepening his understanding of the challenges faced by the Black community.
4. **State Senator of Illinois, 1997-2004**: As a state senator, he built alliances and tackled issues such as health care and education, showcasing his commitment to improving the lives of his constituents.
5. **U.S. Senate Election, 2004**: His keynote address during the Democratic National Convention captured national attention, highlighting issues of unity and hope, which resonated with many Americans and increased his influence.
6. **Presidential Election, 2008**: Obama’s election as the first Black president was a historic moment, representing a significant breakthrough in American politics and inspiring a new generation of Black leaders and activists.
7. **Affordable Care Act, 2010**: The ACA aimed to provide affordable healthcare to millions, significantly impacting the health outcomes of Black Americans and addressing longstanding disparities in access to care.
### Conclusion
This timeline can be formatted visually using the chosen software, allowing for a clear and engaging presentation of Barack Obama's life milestones and their impact on the Black American experience.