The largest labor uprising in American history happened in the southern hills of West Virginia in the summer of 1921. 10,000 coal miners rose up against the mine owners and their hired detectives/mercenaries/thugs known as the “mine-guards''. On their “Ma

In September of 1971, 1,281 inmates at the Attica State Maximum Security Prison staged a rebellion and held control of the prison for 5 days. They were protesting rampant abuse and after days of negotiations, the State Police + National Guard stormed in.

“WE HOLD THE ROCK!” In 1969 a group of American Indians from different tribes took over and occupied the abandoned Alcatraz prison site on an island in San Francisco Bay. During their 19 month occupation they brought awareness to the mistreatment of Indig

How many lives can one person live? African American entertainer Josephine Baker left poverty and racism in the United States for the bright lights of 1920’s Paris. She became an international superstar through her provocative and talented dancing as well

How can you fight for a movement that largely ignores you? The Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) was a bloody whirlwind of a Civil War. Las Soldaderas were women who joined the armies of the Revolution as soldiers, cooks, nurses and servants. Many that fough

How can humor be used to fuel a revolution? 1960’s counterculture icon Abbie Hoffman founded the Youth International Party (Yippie) with the goal of stopping the Vietnam War, combatting racism, and tearing down the establishment. To that end, he infiltrat

Is teenage nonconformity an act of serious political resistance?  The Swing Youth were teenagers in Nazi Germany who met up to dance wildly to the “hot” music coming out of America. Every time they did, they risked getting caught and arrested by the

Would you be willing to put yourself at great risk to uncover the truth? Investigative journalist Nellie Bly went undercover as a mental hospital patient, factory worker, and prisoner.  She exposed corruption, greed and mistreatment in every corner o

How do you combat the psychological toll of racism? Steve Biko became a powerful leader in the fight against the brutality and oppression of apartheid in South Africa. As a student resistance leader he helped develop the idea of Black Consciousness and po

Why fight for a right that you know will be denied to you?  Sixteen year-old Mabel Ping-Hua Lee became a vocal activist in the early 20th century suffragist movement in NYC.  When American women finally get the vote, Lee is immediately denied th