The Power of Remembrance 

How Teachers Engage Students from Historically Marginalized Communities

Teaching students about antisemitism and the Holocaust, when those students have suffered traumas and oppression of their own, can be quite challenging. But with the right approach, the outcome can be extremely impactful. We talk to two teachers, one from Germany and one from the United States, who use creative methods to address these difficult topics with young people from a variety of backgrounds, and especially those from historically marginalized communities. Both teachers have worked with students who have overcome misgivings and become powerful advocates for remembrance efforts and anti-prejudice work. 

Speakers

Dr. Steven Becton is the chief officer for equity and inclusion at Facing History and Ourselves, an organization that uses history to challenge teachers and students to stand up to bigotry and hate. As an educator in Memphis, he has taught African-American teenagers about the Holocaust and helped them understand the roots and cost of antisemitism. He learned in Memphis that students from marginalized communities can often benefit directly from studying historic injustice beyond their own communities. 

Sabeth Schmidthals is a Berlin high school teacher. Many of her students are from war-torn countries, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. They often have little knowledge of the Holocaust and little understanding of the human cost of it. Her innovative approach validates their own oppression first, and then shows them in a very personal way how the Holocaust unfolded in the neighborhood surrounding their school — relating it to the importance of preventing antisemitism today.