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Between 1964 and 1968, the United States experienced an unprecedented amount of civil unrest as African American communities protested against racial injustice and discrimination. The summer of 1967 was particularly devastating. Violent outbreaks occurred in almost 150 cities, giving it the name “the long, hot summer.” Although some considered the unrest rational political acts, mainstream news organizations portrayed them as spontaneous bursts of anger by focusing more on the violence and damage, rather than the underlying racial issues. 

Riots or Rebellions: Teaching Boston's Racial Unrest is a public history project that focuses on the June 1967 violent protests that occurred in Roxbury, Boston's predominantly Black neighborhood. It is an educational resource for high school students comprised of lesson plans and interactive elements that were designed to contribute to the larger discussion of how race-related protests are covered in newspapers and perceived by the general public.

New to the topic? Visit the 1967 Riot History page for more on the long, hot summer. To learn more about Roxbury's incident, view the Boston Timeline. For further recommendations on how to get started, click on your respective group!