Marion Butts Collection:
Working for a Living

Objectives: Students will be able to explain the different types of jobs held by African Americans in Dallas.

Social Studies TEKS:

• TEK 7.21C Organize and interpret information from outlines, reports, databases, and visuals including graphs, charts, timelines, and maps

Suggested Time:

Approximately 1-2 class periods

Materials & Resources:

• Computers with access to the Marion Butts collection and PowerPoint
• Modifying for resources: printed photos for each group and poster-board.

Student Project:

• IStudents are assigned to heterogeneous groups of 3-4. Each group will be assigned a particular type of work and will create a PowerPoint presentation about this category of work.
• Students will use the provided sets of photographs to draw conclusions about these jobs:
• How would you describe this working environment?
• Have students brainstorm what qualifications a person must have to be hired in this position. What education level? How much experience?
• Each group will present their project
• Debrief with a large group discussion

Discussion Questions:

• What do you notice about the different categories of work for African Americans in Dallas?
• Did anything surprise you?
• How do you think segregation affected the type of work for African Americans in Dallas?
• How do you think desegregation changed the type of jobs available for African Americans?
• How do you think it would affect businesses owned by African Americans?