Chairman Fred Hampton Way

Abstract

I begin this article at the site of the murder of Black Panther Party Leader Fred Hampton. I then visit the school where I teach and I recall elements of my life history that explain how I became aware of the political repression and murder of Fred Hampton. I then focus on how I brought a discussion of Hampton's work into the classroom and how this discussion created a moment where I believe students had a conscious recognition of what I was doing: working against common practice to provide them with a politically relevant school experience. I provide additional examples of politically relevant teaching from my classroom, I discuss research on the subject, and I call for increased efforts by teachers to offer politically relevant instruction to their students.