Dorothy Pitman Hughs: Life and Legacy
- Balance Learning Resources
- Mar 1
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 2
Grade Level: 6-8
Duration of video: 7 minutes
Themes: Civil Rights, Feminism, Community Activism, Racial and Gender Equality
Lesson Overview:
In this lesson, students will explore the life and contributions of Dorothy Pitman Hughes, a Black feminist, child welfare advocate, and community activist. Through primary and supplemental videos, students will examine her early life, activism, partnership with Gloria Steinem, and long-term impact on social justice. Discussions and activities will encourage students to connect her work to present-day movements.
Lesson Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will:
1. Understand Dorothy Pitman Hughes’s contributions to civil rights and feminism.
2. Analyze the intersection of race and gender in activism.
3. Reflect on the importance of community engagement in social movements.
Materials:
• Projector or screen
• Student notebooks
• Handout with key discussion questions
• Chart paper and markers for group work
Lesson Outline:
1. Warm-Up Activity (10 minutes)
• Display a photo of Dorothy Pitman Hughes and Gloria Steinem raising their fists.
• Ask students: “What do you think this image represents? What messages does it convey?”
• Briefly introduce Dorothy Pitman Hughes and her activism.
2. Watch the Main Video (3 minutes)
• Play Life and Legacy of Activist and Feminist Leader Dorothy Pitman Hughes.
• Instruct students to take notes on key events and themes they notice.
3. Discussion (10 minutes)
Divide students into small groups to discuss:
1. What motivated Dorothy Pitman Hughes to become an activist?
2. How did her work address both racial and gender inequality?
3. Why was her partnership with Gloria Steinem significant?
4. Group Activity: “Activism in Action” (10 minutes)
• Each group will create a poster highlighting a modern social issue that connects to Hughes’s work (e.g., racial justice, gender equality, childcare rights).
• Groups will present their posters and discuss how Hughes’s activism relates to present-day movements.
5. Closing Reflection (5 minutes)
• Students will write a short paragraph answering: “What lesson can we learn from Dorothy Pitman Hughes’s activism that applies to our world today?”
Additional Resources:
“Woman – Dorothy Pitman Hughes”
• A 1970s interview with Hughes discussing her activism and work in the women’s movement.
Video Link:
“Dorothy Pitman Hughes Interview (1971)”
• A historical interview where Hughes shares insights into her activism and community efforts.
Video Link:
"With Her Fist Raised": The Story Of Iconic Feminist Dorothy Pittman Hughes https://msmagazine.com/2021/09/09/dorothy-pitman-hughes-feminist-gloria-steinem-who-founded-ms-magazine/
“Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Activist for Racial and Gender Equality, Dies at 84”
• A news segment reflecting on Hughes’s legacy and impact.
Video Link:
