About This Lesson
This lesson explores the life and activism of Lucy Parsons, a pivotal figure in the American labor movement and a tireless advocate for social justice. Through a video and accompanying worksheet, students will examine Parsons' background, beliefs, and impact, engaging in critical thinking about radicalism, historical erasure, and the ongoing struggle for workers' rights.
This lesson explores the life and impact of Lucy Parsons, a bold and radical activist of African, Mexican, and Native American descent who spent decades fighting for workers' rights, free speech, and racial justice. From her early involvement in the labor movement and the Haymarket Affair, to her co-founding of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), Parsons was a fearless advocate for the working class—so much so that the FBI raided her home after her death and confiscated her writings. Students will analyze her evolving views on suffrage, her belief in anarchism and direct action, and why authorities once called her “more dangerous than a thousand rioters.” The lesson encourages critical thinking activism, historical erasure, and the importance of preserving stories like Parsons’ in U.S. history
